DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Data Protection

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he read the report, Independent Review of Government Information Assurance; and what steps he has taken in response to the report.

Edward Miliband: holding answer 27 November 2007
	 The discussion document on the Independent Review of Government Information Assurance, published for the Information Assurance Conference on 27 June 2007, helped to inform development of the Government's Information Assurance Strategy, published on the same day. Information Assurance procedures within departments and agencies are being reviewed by the Cabinet Secretary, 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179.

Retirement

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Cabinet Office requires its employees to retire at the latest at 65 years of age; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Cabinet Office has a retirement age of 65 for its employees. Employees who wish to remain beyond that age may exercise their statutory right to request to remain under the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006. Requests to remain beyond the age of 65 are considered against clearly defined criteria that meet business needs as well as ensuring fair and equal treatment for all employees.
	The Department's retirement policy recognises the wealth of valuable experience that all employees can bring to the organisation and supports its business by providing a skilled and professional work force with opportunities for development and advancement, irrespective of age.

PRIME MINISTER

Political Parties: Public Appointments

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister what appointments to the House of Lords arising from  (a) nominations from political parties,  (b) non-party political nominations and  (c) by other means, indicating in each case whether nominations were made by (i) the Prime Minister, (ii) the Leader of the Opposition, (iii) the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, (iv) leaders of other parties and (v) others.

Gordon Brown: Appointments to the House of Lords are announced in  The London Gazette and affiliation is a matter of public record.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Labour Party: Donors

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will make a statement on the timetable for the investigation by the Electoral Commission into whether there has been any failure to comply with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in connection with a number of donations made to the Labour party announced on 26 November.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it opened its inquiry on 27 November and formally referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police Service on 30 November.

Meetings: Political Parties Panel

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of meetings held between the Political Parties Panel and the Electoral Commission held since June 2001.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has done so.

Political Impartiality

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether restrictions apply to the staff of the Electoral Commission  (a) joining political parties,  (b) donating to political parties,  (c) donating to registered third parties and  (d) contributing to trade union political funds.

Peter Viggers: Under the terms of schedule 1 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 any member of staff, except the chief executive, may be a member of a political party.
	Under the Act, Electoral Commission staff are not permitted to make recordable donations to registered political parties or to recognised third parties.
	The Electoral Commission informs me that there are no restrictions on its staff contributing to trade union political funds.

Political Parties: Donors

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the Electoral Commission's policy is on the  (a) publication and  (b) other uses of lists of impermissible donors.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it is statutorily required under section 69 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 to maintain a publicly available register of recordable donations. That register includes information on impermissible donations. The register is available on the Commission's website and at its offices.
	The Commission uses the registered information on impermissible donations to inform periodic updates of its guidance.

Political Parties: Donors

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Electoral Commission has produced on the procedure and obligations applying to individuals making donations to political parties on behalf of third parties.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs that it publishes on its website at:
	www.electoralcommission.org.uk
	'Donations and loans; guidance for political parties in Great Britain' which details the reporting requirements on donations to political parties, including those made on behalf of others.

Political Parties: Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Electoral Commission has provided on reporting aggregated trade union affiliation fees paid to a political party as a donation where each individual affiliation fee is below the £200 reporting threshold.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs that it publishes "Donations and loans; guidance for political parties in Great Britain" which includes the reporting requirements on aggregated donations. The guidance is available on the Commission's website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk

Political Parties: Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what research the Electoral Commission has undertaken into trade union funding of the  (a) Labour,  (b) Conservative and Unionist and  (c) Liberal Democrat Party.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it published a report in 2004 entitled "The Funding of Political Parties", which included information on funding provided by trade unions. Copies of this report are available in the House of Commons Library. The Commission publishes on its website, www.electoralcommission.org.uk, details of donations and loans to all political parties, including those reported from trade unions.

Political Parties: Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the amount donated by trade union organisations to political parties, in  (a) cash and  (b) non-cash donations in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that the information requested is as set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Cash  Non-cash 
			 2005 11,782,225.00 203,595.02 
			 2006 8,600,158.09 14,522.00

Politicians: Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Electoral Commission has given on declaration and registration of trade union sponsorship of  (a) hon. Members and  (b) parliamentary candidates.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it produces guidance for Members of Parliament on their reporting requirements under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. A copy of the most recent version of the guidance, "Donations and loans: guidance for Members of Parliament", published in November 2006, has now been placed in the House of Commons Library. The guidance covers the types of donations, including sponsorship, that must be reported to the Commission.
	Guidance for parties, candidates and agents is provided to those involved in elections to Westminster, the European Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly, National Assembly for Wales and for all local government elections.

OLYMPICS

Corporate Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics on how many occasions she has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months.

Tessa Jowell: Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.

WALES

Ministers: Salaries

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Wales Office pays any proportion of his Ministerial salary.

Peter Hain: Ministerial salaries are paid in accordance with the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975. Details of ministerial salaries are available at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/m06.pdf and in the Library of the House.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Leader of the House whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by her Office in the procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibit the assignment of debt.

Helen Goodman: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office for these purposes. The information requested will be contained in the response given by that Department.

Labour Party: Finance

Theresa May: To ask the Leader of the House what declarations she has made under the Ministerial Code in relation to donations received in relation to her deputy leadership of the Labour Party campaign; and to whom, and in respect of what donations, such declarations were made.

Harriet Harman: Information was provided to the permanent secretary at the Department of Constitutional Affairs at the appropriate time and in line with the Ministerial Code.

Public Bill Committees

Mike Hancock: To ask the Leader of the House what assessment she has made of the effect of public bill committees on the legislative process.

Helen Goodman: The changes in procedure relating to the committee stage of Bills taken off the Floor of the House, including the renaming of standing committees on Bills by the more descriptive title of 'Public Bill Committees', which were agreed by the House on 1 November 2006, have been generally welcomed.
	Oral evidence taking in Public Bill Committees began in January 2007. Four Bills which began their passage in session 2006-07 took such evidence, and in the current session it will now be standard practice for all programmed Government Bills starting in the Commons to hold sessions of oral evidence. The ability of such committees to take oral evidence before proceeding to clause by clause scrutiny has brought benefits to the consideration of Bills. Good co-operation between the Government and other representatives on the committee, and the House authorities, can maximise the effectiveness of the process. The power for such committees to receive written evidence is increasingly made use of by a range of organisations and individuals. The initial view is that these processes have helped to improve the opportunities for those outside Parliament to engage with the legislative process.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departments: Manpower

Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality whether the legal advisers working alongside the Government Equalities Office, as referred to in the answer of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 609W, on Departments: manpower work exclusively for the Government Equalities Office.

Barbara Follett: The legal advisers identified as working alongside the Government Equalities Office in the answer of the 29 October 2007, were those working solely for the Government Equalities Office.

TREASURY

Arthritis: Death

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people  (a) under 16 years of age and  (b) 16 years and over died from rheumatoid arthritis in each year since 1997, broken down by Government Office Region.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked top reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people  (a) under 16 years of age and  (b) 16 years and over died from rheumatoid arthritis in each year since 1997, broken down by Government Office Region. I am replying in her absence. (172912)
	The attached table provides  (a) the number of deaths from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children under 16 and  (b) rheumatoid arthritis in persons aged 16 and over, broken down by English Government Office Region from 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths with a cause of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (under 16 years) or rheumatoid arthritis (16 years and over)( l)  English Government Office Region, 1997-2006( 2,3) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  North East   
			 Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (under 16 years) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Rheumatoid arthritis (16 years and over) 49 43 30 32 58 58 53 37 55 41 
			 All rheumatoid arthritis 49 43 30 32 58 58 53 38 55 41 
			
			  North West   
			 Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (under 16 years) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Rheumatoid arthritis (16 years and over) 106 112 95 75 127 98 114 115 104 98 
			 All rheumatoid arthritis 106 112 95 75 127 98 115 116 104 98 
			
			
			  Yorkshire and The Humber   
			 Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (under 16 years) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rheumatoid arthritis (16 years and over) 68 73 63 59 88 107 92 83 70 84 
			 All rheumatoid arthritis 68 73 63 59 89 107 92 83 70 84 
			
			  East Midlands   
			 Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (under 16 years) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rheumatoid arthritis (16 years and over) 68 60 55 50 74 57 70 59 86 87 
			 AH rheumatoid arthritis 68 60 55 50 74 57 70 59 86 87 
			
			  West Midlands   
			 Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (under 16 years) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rheumatoid arthritis (16 years and over) 90 81 76 84 109 114 113 85 92 95 
			 All rheumatoid arthritis 90 81 77 84 109 114 113 85 92 95 
			
			  East of England   
			 Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (under 16 years) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Rheumatoid arthritis (16 years and over) 72 83 70 81 99 112 101 85 67 78 
			 All rheumatoid arthritis 72 83 70 81 99 112 102 85 67 78 
			
			  London   
			 Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (under 16 years) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rheumatoid arthritis (16 years and over) 65 56 66 43 82 76 58 58 53 33 
			 All rheumatoid arthritis 65 56 66 43 82 76 58 58 53 33 
			
			  South East   
			 Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (under 16 years) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rheumatoid arthritis (16 years and over) 114 117 105 115 148 149 135 124 136 97 
			 All rheumatoid arthritis 114 118 105 115 148 149 135 124 136 97 
			
			  South West   
			 Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (under 16 years) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rheumatoid arthritis (16 years and over) 101 89 86 90 132 103 108 93 107 81 
			 All rheumatoid arthritis 101 89 86 90 132 103 108 93 107 81 
			 (1) Cause of death for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 714.0-714.9 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes M05.0-M06.9, M080.0, M08.2, M08.3 and M08.9, where there was any mention of these codes on the death certificate, and the person was aged under 16 years. Cause of death for rheumatoid arthritis (16 years and over) was defined using ICD-9 codes 714.0-714.9 and ICD-10 codes M05.0-M06.9, M08.0, M08.2, M08.3 and M08.9, where this was recorded as the underlying cause of death, and the person was aged 16 years or over. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 means that the numbers of deaths from this cause before 2001 are not completely comparable with later years.  (2) Based on parliamentary constituency and local authority boundaries as of 2007.  (3) figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Aviation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many air miles were travelled by Ministers in his Department in each year since 2000; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced by his Department in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many miles he and other Ministers in his Department travelled on short haul flights in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result of these flights.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury began collecting data on air mileage and emissions in 2006-07. The available data are set out in the table. It is not possible to give a further break down of ministerial air travel within these data. The Treasury offsets all official and ministerial air travel.(1)
	
		
			   Kilometres  CO 2  emissions-tonnes 
			 Short-haul air travel by Ministers and officials (2006-07) 3,146,011 944 
			 Long-haul air travel by Ministers and officials (2006-07) 2,469,318 543 
			 Total for 2006-07 5,615,329 1,487 
		
	
	The Treasury has been measuring the carbon emissions for the office estate since 1999-2000. Figures from this date to 2005-06 are set out in the annex. Estate emissions for 2006-07 were 1,110,615 kg carbon. All electricity used is generated from renewable sources, and emissions have fallen by 19 per cent. during this period.(2)
	The department also now estimates that in 2006-07 12 tonnes of carbon were emitted from road based travel and 19.3 tonnes of carbon were emitted from rail travel.(3)
	Data for short haul air mileage and emissions from April 2007 to the current month will be available shortly.
	(1)( ) Source: DEFRA methodology: Government Carbon Offsetting Fund—an explanation of this methodology is available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/carbonoffset/government.htm
	(2) The Building Research Establishment Ltd. provides annual analysis of energy consumption and emissions data for government departments and the Sustainable Development Commission. These data are used to monitor progress against government targets.
	(3) The methodology used follows guidance set out for government departments by the Sustainable Development Commission and the July 2005 DEFRA "Greenhouse Gas conversion factors for Company Reporting".

Bank of England: Public Appointments

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to appoint the Governor of the Bank of England to a second term in office; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: Under the Bank of England Act 1998, the Queen is responsible for appointing the Governor of the Bank of England.

Banks: Fees and Charges

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to speed up the payment of compensation to consumers who have experienced excessive overdraft charges; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: There is currently a test case before the courts, taken by the Office of Fair Trading, to determine whether charges for unauthorised overdrafts come within the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, and if so whether such charges are fair. This test case is expected to be heard in the new year. It would not be appropriate for the Chancellor to comment further while the case is ongoing.

Cancer

Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the incidence of cancer was in each  (a) constituency,  (b) primary care trust area,  (c) hospital trust area,  (d) region and  (e) social demographic group in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 [Official Report, 14 January 2008, Vol. 470, c. 5MC.]
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the incidence of cancer was in each (a) constituency, (b) primary care trust area, (c) hospitals trust area, (d) region and (e) social demographic group in the most recent period for which figures are available. I am replying in her absence. (171907)
	It is not possible to calculate incidence rates of cancer by (a) constituency and (c) hospitals trust area because the relevant populations are not available.
	Incidence rates of all cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer in England by (b) primary care trust area and (d) government office region for 2004, the latest year for which figures are available, are given in Tables 1 and 2 below. Figures for government office regions are also available on the National Statistics website at
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Productasp?vlnk=8843&Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=272
	Incidence rates of all cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer in England and Wales by (e) social demographic group are not available. However, the latest incidence rates for the three main cancers (breast, lung and prostate), which make up around 40 per cent of all cancers, by (e) social demographic group are given in Table 3 below.
	
		
			  Table 1: Incidence rates( 1)  of all cancers( 2)  per 100,000 population, by primary care trust( 3)  and sex, England, 2004 
			   Males  Females 
			  Primary care trust   
			 England 480 454 
			
			 South Gloucestershire 633 534 
			 Havering 437 325 
			 Kingston 422 344 
			 Bromley 344 310 
			 Greenwich Teaching 407 342 
			 Barnet 348 302 
			 North East Lincolnshire 511 437 
			 Hillingdon 371 296 
			 Enfield 374 303 
			 Barking and Dagenham 412 274 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 412 286 
			 Tower Hamlets 388 334 
			 Newham 392 332 
			 Haringey Teaching 449 325 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 547 425 
			 Herefordshire 448 430 
			 Milton Keynes 642 495 
			 Newcastle 604 465 
			 North Tyneside 589 464 
			 Hartlepool 609 402 
			 North Tees 556 490 
			 North Lincolnshire 493 416 
			 Nottingham City 608 509 
			 Bassetlaw 460 531 
			 Plymouth Teaching 645 492 
			 Salford 529 441 
			 Stockport 574 438 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching 578 526 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 633 525 
			 Luton 401 335 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 402 272 
			 Rotherham 614 520 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan 565 426 
			 Blackpool 641 517 
			 Bolton 532 438 
			 Ealing 343 289 
			 Hounslow 352 281 
			 Warrington 538 403 
			 Knowsley 712 539 
			 Oldham 566 422 
			 Calderdale 482 445 
			 Darlington 529 415 
			 Barnsley 553 439 
			 Bury 534 420 
			 Swindon 526 464 
			 Brent Teaching 346 287 
			 Harrow 317 289 
			 Camden 412 378 
			 Islington 454 318 
			 Croydon 399 327 
			 Gateshead 591 474 
			 South Tyneside 567 501 
			 Sunderland Teaching 564 495 
			 Middlesbrough 620 461 
			 Southampton City 598 477 
			 Medway 431 366 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 337 244 
			 Westminster 375 284 
			 Lambeth 445 363 
			 Southwark 423 347 
			 Lewisham 497 352 
			 Wandsworth 454 386 
			 Tameside and Glossop 548 436 
			 Brighton and Hove City 374 307 
			 South Birmingham 543 447 
			 Shropshire County 560 413 
			 Walsall Teaching 544 470 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 399 331 
			 Sutton and Merton 439 323 
			 North Somerset 622 511 
			 Coventry Teaching 526 438 
			 Telford and Wrekin 517 385 
			 Wolverhampton City 461 414 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching 493 345 
			 Leeds 562 453 
			 Kirklees 506 394 
			 Wakefield District 543 476 
			 Sheffield 547 457 
			 Doncaster 627 471 
			 Derbyshire County 544 455 
			 Derby City 566 454 
			 Nottinghamshire County 565 475 
			 Lincolnshire 559 449 
			 Redbridge 323 282 
			 Waltham Forest 323 262 
			 County Durham 535 450 
			 Cumbria 484 449 
			 North Lancashire 590 470 
			 Central Lancashire 574 426 
			 East Lancashire 537 456 
			 Sefton 632 458 
			 Wirral 498 390 
			 Liverpool 678 539 
			 Halton and St. Helens 589 456 
			 Western Cheshire 562 481 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire 544 436 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale 588 413 
			 Trafford 612 471 
			 Manchester 598 475 
			 North Yorkshire and York 550 426 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 536 440 
			 Hull 576 457 
			 Bradford and Airedale 515 427 
			 South East Essex 401 351 
			 Bedfordshire 379 363 
			 East and North Hertfordshire 416 321 
			 West Hertfordshire 294 259 
			 Surrey 356 332 
			 West Sussex 390 326 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald 379 328 
			 Hastings and Rother 299 303 
			 West Kent 385 336 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland 511 442 
			 Leicester City 469 411 
			 Northamptonshire 535 454 
			 Dudley 458 411 
			 Sandwell 465 367 
			 Birmingham East and North 571 410 
			 North Staffordshire 462 370 
			 Stoke on Trent 505 461 
			 South Staffordshire 520 422 
			 Worcestershire 543 456 
			 Warwickshire 528 432 
			 Peterborough 532 421 
			 Cambridgeshire 534 447 
			 Norfolk 516 446 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney 500 412 
			 Suffolk 553 418 
			 West Essex 385 281 
			 North East Essex 377 325 
			 Mid Essex 302 261 
			 South West Essex 394 296 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent 419 335 
			 Hampshire 496 399 
			 Buckinghamshire 573 481 
			 Oxfordshire 591 480 
			 Berkshire West 577 453 
			 Berkshire East 576 458 
			 Gloucestershire 532 451 
			 Bristol 612 484 
			 Wiltshire 630 493 
			 Somerset 569 512 
			 Dorset 673 490 
			 Bournemouth and Poole 682 496 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 569 490 
			 Devon 645 490 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 618 485 
			 Isle of Wight National Health Service 531 475 
			
			  Care Trust   
			 Northumberland 560 456 
			 Bexley 372 347 
			 Torbay 562 507 
			 Solihull 578 474 
			 (1) Directly age standardised to the European Standard Population. (2) All cancers, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, are classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10): C00-C97 excluding C44. (3) Boundaries as at 1 October 2006.  Source: Office for National Statistics. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Incidence rate( 1) of all cancers( 2)  per 100,000 population, by Government office region and sex, England, 2004 
			   Males  Females 
			 England 480 454 
			
			 North East 533 506 
			 North West 537 486 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 502 474 
			 East Midlands 499 492 
			 West Midlands 489 454 
			 East 456 426 
			 London 342 333 
			 South East 469 454 
			 South West 578 534 
			 (1) Directly age standardised to the European Standard Population. (2) All cancers, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, are classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10): C00-C97 excluding C44.  Source: Office for National Statistics (2004) 'Cancer Statistics: Registrations Series MB1' 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Incidence rate( 1)  of selected cancers( 2)  per 100,000 by deprivation, England and Wales, 2002-04 average 
			   Breast  Prostate  Lung 
			  Deprivation quintile  Female  Male  Female  Male 
			 Q1 Least deprived 157 100 56 28 
			 Q2 152 96 70 34 
			 Q3 148 91 83 42 
			 Q4 141 85 99 53 
			 Q5 Most deprived 132 82 125 67 
			 (1) Directly age standardised to the European Standard Population. (2) Cancers are classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10): prostate C61, Breast C50, Lung C33-34.  Source: Unpublished data from Rowan S (2007) 'Trends in cancer incidence by deprivation, England and Wales, 1990-2002' in Health Statistics Quarterly 36: 24-41.

Civil Servants

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the Civil Service are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) black and minority ethnic male and  (d) black and minority ethnic female.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 4 December 2007
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what proportion of the Civil Service are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) BME male and  (d) BME female. I am replying in her absence. (171380)
	Statistics on the gender of civil servants are published every quarter in table 6 of the Public Sector Employment First Release. The latest published statistics are for June 2007.
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/pse0907.pdf
	More detailed diversity statistics, including statistics on gender and ethnic origin are published in Civil Service Statistics, an on-line article available from the National Statistics website.
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/article.asp?id=1885
	The latest period for which the statistics are available is the year to September 2006.
	
		
			  Civil Service—permanent employees by gender and ethnic origin 30 September 2006 
			  Percentage 
			   Male  Female 
			 All 47 53 
			 Ethnic minority (1) 3.3 5.2 
			 (1 )Ethnic minority is calculated as a percentage of known ethnic origin  Source:  Mandate and Departmental Returns

Death

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths there were in the home in the following age groups  (a) under 16,  (b) 16 to 24,  (c) 25 to 65 and  (d) over 65 in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths there were in the home in the following age groups (a) under 16, (b) 16 to 24, (c) 25 to 65 and (d) over 65 in each of the last five years. I am replying in her absence. (173552)
	The latest figures are for deaths registered in the calendar year 2006. The table below shows the number of deaths which occurred at home by age group between 2002 to 2006.
	
		
			  Number of deaths which occurred at home,( 1)  by age group, England and Wales,  2002-2006( 2) 
			   Under 16  16-24  25-65  66 and over 
			 2002 490 589 25,210 71,526 
			 2003 437 595 25,510 70,696 
			 2004 430 569 24,925 68,258 
			 2005 413 528 25,049 68,255 
			 2006 436 576 25,581 68,846 
			 (1) Deaths at home are those at the usual residence of the deceased (according to the informant who registered the death), where this was not a communal establishment. (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Delivery Unit: Academies

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which academies have been  (a) visited and  (b) contacted as part of the Delivery Unit Review of Academies; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The joint PMDU/DCSF review is studying progress across the full Academy programme. My Department considers that the release of the names of the Academies either visited or contacted by the review team would have an inhibiting effect on the free and frank discussions required in priority reviews and would disrupt our ability to meet our wider objectives, both in this review and in future PMDU work. PMDU reviews are confidential advice to Ministers; we do not disclose the recommendations or publish any report.

Departmental Corporate Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions he has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: Chapter 7 of the "Ministerial Code" sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.

Departmental ICT

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what e-procurement innovations in relation to  (a) how information is communicated and  (b) the use of online booking tools have been introduced in core Treasury; what estimate of generated cost savings has been made; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury have introduced the following eProcurement tools and online booking systems:
	Oracle Finance System enabled to allow purchase orders to be issued electronically, electronic invoicing capability, electronic remittance advice and automatic payment;
	Treasury uses OGCbuying.solutions Catalist ITQ (Invitation To Quote) system;
	Online systems for ordering goods and services such as stationery, business cards, paper supplies and temporary staff;
	An online learning management booking system;
	An online travel booking system.
	Cost savings attributable specifically to these tools are not recorded and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) men and  (b) women of each Civil Service grade are employed by his Department.

Angela Eagle: The latest available statistics on grade and gender of civil servants in departments and agencies are as at 30 September 2006 and are published in "Civil Service Statistics 2006" at Table H. This document and associated tables are produced by the Office for National Statistics and can be accessed from the following website addresses:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/2006CivilServiceStatistics.pdf
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/CivilService2006TablesandCharts.xls

Departmental Opinion Polls

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what opinion polls his Department has conducted of  (a) the public and  (b) staff since 27 June 2007; and what the (i) name of the firm employed to conduct the poll, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost to the public purse was in each case.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury does not maintain records in the way requested and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

Departmental Orders and Regulations

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many regulations his Department has  (a) made and  (b) revoked in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: 136 regulations were made by the Treasury in the last 12 months.
	No central record is held of revocations as these can be effected by either primary or secondary legislation.

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by his Department in the procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibit the assignment of debt.

Angela Eagle: There is no express provision prohibiting the assignment of debt in the standard terms and conditions of purchase. However, there is a provision prohibiting the contractor from assigning any portion of the Contract without the prior written consent of the Lords Commissioners of HM Treasury (or such other person or persons duly appointed by them). On the basis that a prohibition on 'assignment of debt' includes a prohibition on the contractor from assigning money owed to it under a contract to a third party, the legal team take this provision to mean that under HMT's standard terms and conditions of purchase a contractor may not assign its debts without HMT's prior consent.

Departmental Recycling

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) volume and  (b) percentage of its waste his Department recycled in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury's performance currently exceeds the government's target of recycling 40 per cent. of waste by 2010 as shown in the figures in the table.
	
		
			   Volume (metric tonnes)  Percentage recycled 
			 2002-03 61.34 25.59 
			 2003-04 176.86 51.56 
			 2004-05 204.10 54.62 
			 2005-06 197.46 45.86 
			 2006-07 189.47 43.10

Departmental Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which telephone contact centres are within the responsibility of his Department.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury does not have a designated 'call centre' telephone contact centre as such. Telephone enquiries to HM Treasury are dealt with within the general Correspondence and Enquiry Unit along with email and letter correspondence handling.

Departmental Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the information collected by his Department on contact centre operations.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury operates a Correspondence and Enquiry Unit which is the central point of contact for those contacting the Department whether by telephone, email or letter. It handles approximately l,000 contact items per week from Members of Parliament and the public. Details and performances are provided in the Department's annual report and via an annual written parliamentary answer.

Financial markets

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure liquidity in the financial markets following recent instability in the UK financial sector; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: As the Governor made clear in his statement to TSC on 29 November, the Tripartite authorities keep conditions in international and UK financial markets under constant review. On 29 November the Governor of the Bank of England told the Treasury Committee of actions the bank is taking to assure banks of liquidity over the forthcoming year-end. The Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank have announced similar measures. The bank stands ready to take further measures in order to keep overnight rates in line with bank rate.

Foreigners: Saudi Arabia

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of Saudi Arabian nationals living in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what estimate has been made of the number of Saudi Arabian nationals living in the United Kingdom. I am replying in her absence. (171880)
	Between July and September 2007, there were an estimated 12,000 Saudi Arabian nationals living in the UK. This figure is based on Labour Force Survey data and, as with any sample survey, is subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Insurance: Public Participation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 393W, on insurance: public participation, how his Department monitors the compliance of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) with the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 on requiring the FSA to consult on proposed rules and to produce a cost benefit analysis; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) requires the FSA to consult on rules it proposes to make. The consultation must include a cost benefit analysis and an explanation of the purpose of the proposed rules.
	The FSA is independent of Government but accountable to Parliament, Government, the public and industry in a number of ways. For example, the FSA must make an annual report to the Treasury on the discharge of its functions and the extent to which its regulatory objectives have been met—this report is then published. The independent Practitioner and Consumer Panels, whose status is set out in FSMA, ensure that the views of consumers and the industry are taken into account by the FSA. The FSA is required to respond formally to their representations.

International Monetary Fund: Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what successor programme has been negotiated between the government of Iraq and the International Monetary Fund; what the key features of this programme are; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The UK is not party to discussions between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the government of Iraq. However, we understand that officials from the IMF continue to meet with representatives of the government of Iraq, both in the region and in Washington, to discuss progress on economic reform.
	Such discussions include focus on implementing the government of Iraq's economic reform programme supported by the current IMF stand-by arrangement (SBA), approved on 23 December 2005. Following the completion of the most recent and fifth review under the SBA on 2 August 2007, the IMF executive board approved a three-month extension of the SBA until 28 December 2007, to allow an IMF policy framework to remain in place while preparations were undertaken for successor arrangements.
	The government of Iraq and the IMF are currently preparing for these arrangements, which will build on the reforms identified in current and previous IMF programmes, to enhance macroeconomic stability and economic development in Iraq.
	More details of the current programme, as well as reports from IMF staff and the government of Iraq's memorandums on economic and financial policies, are available on the IMF's website at:
	www.imf.org.

Meningitis: Death

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have died from meningitis in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have died from meningitis in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (172972)
	The attached table provides the number of deaths from bacterial and viral meningitis and other meningococcal diseases in  (a) Jarrow parliamentary constituency,  (b) South Tyneside local authority,  (c) North East Government Office Region, and  (d) the UK, from 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths from bacterial and viral meningitis and other meningococcal diseases( 1)  Jarrow parliamentary constituency. South Tyneside local authority, North East Government Office Region, and UK, 1997-2006( 2, 3, 4) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			   Jarrow  South Tyneside  North East  UK 
			 1997 0 0 29 517 
			 1998 0 3 27 463 
			 1999 1 0 22 433 
			 2000 0 3 24 464 
			 2001 0 0 17 430 
			 2002 0 1 11 331 
			 2003 0 1 14 379 
			 2004 1 1 14 309 
			 2005 0 0 14 311 
			 2006 0 0 5 247 
			 (1) Cause of death selected using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 036, 047, 320 and 322 for 1997 to 2000 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes A39, A87 and G00-G03 for 2001 to 2006. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 means that the numbers of deaths from this cause before 2001 are not completely comparable with later years.  (2) Based on parliamentary constituency and local authority boundaries as of 2007.  (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.  (4) Figures include data provided by the Registrars General for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Northern Rock

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was involved in the appointment of Sir Bryan Sanderson as Chairman of Northern Rock; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The decision to appoint Sir Bryan Sanderson as Chairman of Northern Rock was made by the board of Northern Rock plc.

Northern Rock

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reports he has received on the stability of Northern Rock in each of the last 12 months.

Kitty Ussher: On 14 August 2007, the Financial Services Authority told the Bank of England and the Treasury about its concerns about Northern Rock and its vulnerability to the tightening wholesale funding markets. The Chancellor was informed on 15 August and has received regular written and oral updates since then.

Northern Rock

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proportion of Northern Rock's assets are free of specific charge as collateral for loans;
	(2)  what proportion of the lending to Northern Rock by his Department and the Bank of England is unsecured.

Kitty Ussher: On 14 September 2007 the Chancellor of the Exchequer authorised the Bank of England to provide a liquidity support facility to Northern Rock. A further facility was announced on 11 October 2007.
	Lending for both facilities is on a secured basis and is secured against all of the assets of the company. Under the first facility lending is secured against collateral deemed to be eligible by the Bank of England, with an appropriate margin applied and by a charge over all of Northern Rock's assets. Lending under the second facility is secured by a charge over all of Northern Rock's assets.

Northern Rock

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what value of assets the Bank of England has accepted as collateral for loans to Northern Rock;
	(2)  what proportion of the Bank of England's total assets are represented by claims on Northern Rock and its assets.

Kitty Ussher: The sum borrowed by the company is confidential.

Northern Rock

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what due diligence his Department and the Bank of England completed before lending money to Northern Rock.

Kitty Ussher: The Bank of England, supported by external auditors, has conducted due diligence with regard to the processes used to manage the facility and the quality of the assets taken as collateral.

Northern Rock

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what repayment scheme has been put in place for lending by the Bank of England and his Department to Northern Rock;
	(2)  what guarantees his Department has offered the Bank of England on its loans to Northern Rock.

Kitty Ussher: I refer the right hon. Gentlemen to the letters the Chancellor sent to the chairs of the Public Accounts Committee and the Treasury Select Committee on 11 October 2007, which are available in the House Library.

Northern Rock: Deutsche Bank

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of Deutsche Bank on the acquisition of Northern Rock; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Northern Rock: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons he decided not to sanction a public loan to facilitate the takeover of Northern Rock by Lloyds TSB; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring) on 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 899W.

Office of Government Commerce

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of reductions in  (a) salary and  (b) administration costs made by the Office of Government Commerce in each year since 2003-04; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The following table shows OGC's total net administration costs and salary cost contained therein for the years 2003-04 to 2006-07. These figures are consistent with the resource accounts for those years.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Resource accounts  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Net administration costs 31,984 34,896 44,271 44,908 
			  Of which: 
			 Salaries 15,403 18,406 23,974 25,585 
		
	
	The OGC's expenditure increased between 2004-05 and 2005-06 due to an expansion of its remit in that period, particularly on improving efficiency across the public sector.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: Israel

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to support the application of Israel to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); what discussions he has had with the OECD on the issue; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions  (a) he and  (b) Ministers and officials from his Department have had since July with the government of Israel on its application to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions  (a) he and  (b) Ministers and officials from his Department have had since July with the US Administration on the application of Israel to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The OECD member states decided by consensus that they should start accession negotiations with Israel, Chile, Estonia, Russia and Slovenia. The UK supported this decision. Roadmaps for the accession process were prepared by the Secretary-General and approved by the OECD Council of member states. These set out the conditions each individual candidate country is expected to meet before they are invited to become members of the OECD. The FCO leads on the OECD for Her Majesty's Government.
	Treasury Ministers and officials discuss a wide range of issues with their counterparts in the OECD and accession countries on an ongoing basis.

Private Equity

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the transparency of private equity finance; if he will bring forward proposals to increase such transparency; and what research he has commissioned or supported to this end.

Kitty Ussher: The Government's objectives in the field of private equity are the same as their objectives in relation to other forms of ownership: to promote an environment of long-term, sustainable business success, underpinned by a strong culture of clear disclosure to, and engagement with, underlying investors and stakeholders. The Government's assessment also suggests that it is in the interests of the private equity industry to provide information which will improve public understanding of the industry by demonstrating the extent of its contribution to the UK economy and employment.
	The Government also welcomed the announcement earlier this year by leading private equity houses and the British Venture Capital Association that it would undertake a review to draw up a comply-or-explain code to improve levels of disclosure. Sir David Walker's code is an important step forward in improving the transparency of the industry. He has set a challenge for the private equity industry and the Government will watch with interest to see how the industry responds to this.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of purchasing software that would enable all HM Revenue and Customs data to be encrypted.

Jane Kennedy: On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers. This will consider all aspects of data security. His interim report is expected to be received shortly.

Self-employed: Herefordshire

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average income was of a person in Herefordshire who was self-employed in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The average income of self-employed taxpayers in Herefordshire can be found in table 3.14 "Income and tax by borough and district or unitary authority" on the HM Revenue and Customs website at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menuby-year.htm#314
	These tables are only available for 2003-04 and 2004-05 and are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes.

Self-employed: Income

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the national average income was of a self-employed person in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The mean total income of people with self-employment sources of income is shown in 3.10 "Income of individuals with self employment sources, by range of self employment income and source" on the HM Revenue and Customs website at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm#310
	The tables are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and are available for 1999-2000 to 2004-05. Information for earlier years can be found in the annual Inland Revenue Statistics publications available in the Library.

Self-employed: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of people in Suffolk were self-employed in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what percentage of people in Suffolk were self-employed in each year since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (173453)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	The table attached shows numbers of self-employed people, and these numbers as the percentage of all employed persons, in Suffolk, for the 12 month periods ending in February from 1998 to 2004 from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 months ending in March from 2005 to 2007 from the APS.
	Estimates for a subset of the population in a small geographical area are based on very small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. Changes over time should be treated with particular caution.
	
		
			  Self-employed people resident in Suffolk 
			  12 months ending  Self-employed (Thousand)  Self-employed as a percentage of all employed (percentage) 
			 February 1998 38 12 
			 February 1999 49 15 
			 February 2000 43 13 
			 February 2001 37 12 
			 February 2002 43 13 
			 February 2003 43 13 
			 February 2004 40 13 
			 March 2005 38 12 
			 March 2006 42 13 
			 March 2007 48 15 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates are subject to sampling variability.  2. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with caution.   Source:  Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population survey.

Self-employed: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of people in Tamworth were self-employed in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what percentage of people in Tamworth were self-employed in each year since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (173441)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	The table attached shows numbers of self-employed people, and these numbers as the percentage of all employed persons, in the Tamworth constituency, for the 12 month periods ending in February from 1998 to 2004 from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 months ending in March from 2005 to 2007 from the APS.
	Estimates for a subset of the population in a small geographical area are based on very small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. Changes over time should be treated with particular caution.
	
		
			  Self-employed people resident in Tamworth constituency 
			  12 months ending  Self-employed (Thousand)  Self-employed as a percentage of all employed (percentage) 
			 February 1998 5 12 
			 February 1999 6 14 
			 February 2000 8 16 
			 February 2001 7 13 
			 February 2002 4 8 
			 February 2003 4 8 
			 February 2004 3 7 
			 March 2005 5 11 
			 March 2006 4 9 
			 March 2007 8 15 
			  Notes:  1. Estimates are subject to sampling variability.  2. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with caution.   Source:  Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population survey.

Stamp Duties

Boris Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) mean and  (b) median values of stamp duty paid in (i) England, (ii) South East England and (iii) London by (A) first time buyers, (B) all other house purchasers and (C) all house purchasers were in the last 12 months.

Kitty Ussher: No estimate has been made of the stamp duty land tax paid by first time buyers. For all house purchasers, the estimated mean and median amount of stamp duty land tax paid in 2006-07 is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Mean  Median 
			 England 3,940 1,550 
			 South East England 5,020 1,870 
			 London 7,940 2,210

Strokes: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have died from stroke related illnesses in Suffolk in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have died from stroke related illnesses in Suffolk in each of the last five years. I am replying in her absence. (173455)
	The table below provides the number of deaths where stroke was the underlying cause of death in Suffolk county, for 2002 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths where stroke was the underlying cause of death,( 1)  Suffolk county,( 2)  2002 to 2006( 3) 
			   Suffolk county (persons) 
			 2002 887 
			 2003 831 
			 2004 805 
			 2005 741 
			 2006 681 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), codes I60-I69. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2007. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

VAT: Fraud

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the UK economy of VAT fraud in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: No estimate has been produced for the cost to the UK economy of VAT fraud. HMRC published annual estimates of VAT losses, and the level of MTIC fraud alongside PBR 2007 in "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—2007", which is available from the House of Commons Library or from the HMRC website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2007/mitl.pdf

Welfare Tax Credits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on average per year on the administration of tax credits over the last five years; and what proportion was spent on the delivery of frontline services.

Jane Kennedy: The costs of managing and paying child and working tax credit in the financial years from 2003-04 are shown at figure 1 in chapter 2 of the NAO 2006-07 Standard Report Costs relating to 2007-08 will be published in the Departmental Trust Statement at the end of June 2008.
	Information on the proportion of costs spent in the delivery of tax credits frontline services is not available.

Welfare Tax Credits: Telephone Services

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of telephone scripts used by call centre staff for the tax credits helpline.

Jane Kennedy: Advisers do not use scripts, but do have access to online support and advice tools to help them in answering customer's questions. To put these online tools into a format suitable for publication would incur disproportionate cost. However the tax credit manual and the tax credit technical manual are already publicly available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ntcmanual/index.html
	and
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/tctmanual/index.html
	respectively.

Welfare Tax Credits: Telephone Services

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of calls received by the tax credits helpline were from a mobile phone in the last period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC estimate that around 21 per cent. of the calls made to the tax credit helpline during the November 2007 were made from a mobile phone.

Winter: Death

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged over 65 resident in Cleethorpes constituency died during the winter months in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people aged over 65 resident in Cleethorpes constituency died during the winter months in each year since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (172712)
	Figures for winter deaths are calculated using a definition of winter as a four-month period from December of one year to March of the next year. The table below provides the number of winter deaths of people resident in Cleethorpes parliamentary constituency over the age of 65, for the years 1996/97 to 2005/06 (the latest available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Winter deaths of persons over the age of 65( 1) , Cleethorpes parliamentary constituency( 2) , 1996-97 to 2005-06 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			   Cleethorpes 
			 1996-97 288 
			 1997-98 301 
			 1998-99 268 
			 1999-2000 306 
			 2000-01 284 
			 2001-02 309 
			 2002-03 292 
			 2003-04 300 
			 2004-05 278 
			 2005-06 266 
			 (1) Winter deaths are defined as those occurring in December of one year, plus those occurring in January to March of the following year. (2) Using boundaries as of 2007 for all years.

World Customs Organisation

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response he has made to the European Union's decision to implement the World Customs Organisation's ruling that mobility scooters should be classified as leisure vehicles for tax purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Officials from HM Revenue and Customs are advising the industry on the options available to pursue a change to the customs classification. The officials have written to the European Commission asking to have the classification referred back to the World Customs Organisation. The submission also included a request for an import duty suspension to be introduced while the scooters remain classified in a heading that attracts import duty.
	Classification for import duty purposes under the Customs regime has no direct bearing on VAT liability, which is determined by VAT law. For VAT purposes, mobility scooters may qualify for the zero-rating that applies when disabled people purchase certain 'carriages' or other equipment specifically designed to meet their needs. The Government have no plans to change the scope of this VAT relief.

Written Questions

Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will answer question 162908 tabled by the hon. Member for Sevenoaks on 7 November on the bank depositors' protection scheme; and what the reasons are for the time take to reply.

Kitty Ussher: I answered the hon. Gentleman's question yesterday and regret not having been in a position to do so earlier.

JUSTICE

Royal Prerogative

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to increase Parliament's ability to scrutinise the Government's actions under the Royal Prerogative.

Michael Wills: On 25 October the Ministry of Justice jointly published with the MOD and FCO a public consultation document which proposes reforms to the way the powers to make decisions to deploy the armed forces into armed conflict abroad and to ratify of treaties are exercised. The consultation closes on 17 January 2008.
	The "Governance of Britain" Green Paper also states that the Government would undertake a wider review of the remaining prerogative powers.

Young People Reoffending

Chris Mole: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to prevent young people reoffending.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to prevent young people reoffending.

David Hanson: Between 2000 and 2005 youth re-offending has reduced by 2.5 per cent. The Youth Justice Board have worked with partners to improve practice, ensure the right performance frameworks and indicators are in place and put in place a delivery plan to reduce youth reoffending.

Adult Reoffending

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce adult reoffending.

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce adult re-offending.

David Hanson: The Government are committed to reducing adult reoffending. The latest figures show that reoffending is down by 5.8 per cent. since 2000. We are now consulting on a new strategic plan to build on our success in reducing reoffending.

Community Sentences

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to enhance public confidence in community sentences.

Maria Eagle: Community sentences are already widely used and are associated with reduced reoffending. Activity is already underway to communicate the effectiveness of community sentences and the professionalism of probation officers to the public.

Forced Marriages

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to improve the protection afforded by the criminal justice system to those vulnerable to forced marriages.

Bridget Prentice: The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 will provide civil remedies for those who are being forced into marriage or have been forced into a marriage. Existing criminal offences also offer protection for those being forced into marriage. These include common assault, kidnapping, child abduction, rape and threatening to kill.

Party Funding

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to restart the cross-party talks on party funding.

Bridget Prentice: Arrangements are in hand for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) to meet with other political parties.

Burglary: Assault

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to bring forward proposals to amend the law to change the test for the defence of self-defence put forward by residents accused of assault during the course of burglary.

Jack Straw: I announced my intention to review the law on self-defence at the Labour Party Conference in the autumn. Our aim has been to complete this work in time for the issue to be addressed in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill. That remains the case and we intend to table amendments to the Bill for Report.

Sentencing Policy

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to amend guidelines issued by his Department on sentencing policy; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Government do not issue guidelines on sentencing. Sentencing guidelines are issued by the independent Sentencing Guidelines Council or in some cases by the Court of Appeal.
	The Government have accepted a recommendation from Lord Carter of Coles' report on prisons to set up a working group to consider the advantages, disadvantages and feasibility of a structured sentencing framework and permanent Sentencing Commission.

Youth Custody: Education and Training

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to improve the access of young people in custody to education and training; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families announced that we will consult in the new year on whether and how local authorities should lead on education and training in custody. This would mean that for the first time young people in custody would have access to education services that are consistent with what happens in schools, colleges and wider providers across the country.

Corston Report

Celia Barlow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Corston report; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: I refer my hon. Friend to my written ministerial statement of 6 December 2007,  Official Report, column 96WS, which announced the publication of the Government's response to the Corston report. The response sets out the commitments that have been made across government to take forward the recommendations. The response provides a summary of timescales for actions over the next 12 months.

Prison Overcrowding

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect of prison overcrowding on prisoner rehabilitation programmes.

Maria Eagle: The main risk entailed by population pressures is that prisoners do not complete offending behaviour programmes because they are transferred to another establishment before the programme is completed.
	The Prison Service monitors the delivery of all offending behaviour programmes closely. Less than 1 per cent. of those who started offending behaviour programmes in 2006-07 failed to complete because of transfer.

Anthony Sweeney

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will order an independent inquiry into the circumstances which allowed Anthony Sweeney to be released from prison on a temporary basis.

David Hanson: There has been an investigation by the Prison Service into Mr. Sweeney's release. I believe his release was in accordance with Prison Service policy. I will however, write to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

Departmental Manpower

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of posts in his Department have been recategorised from back office to frontline posts as classified by the Gershon efficiency review in each year since 2004.

Maria Eagle: No posts have been reclassified from back office to frontline posts in the Ministry of Justice.

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by his Department in the procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibit the assignment of debt.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice's standard terms and conditions of contract contain a clause preventing third parties from deriving any benefits from the contract, unless this is explicitly agreed by both parties to the contract. This clause would prevent the supplier assigning the benefits of the contract to meet obligations such as debts. We also have a clause that prevents the supplier from assigning the contract without our consent.

Disclosure of Information: Government Departments

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance has been given to Departments about the inclusion of provisions limiting freedom of information disclosures in their contracts with consultants or contractors.

Michael Wills: The Secretary of State issues the code of practice on the Discharge of Public Authorities' Functions under part I of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It was laid before Parliament in November 2004. Part V sets out guidance on freedom of information and confidentiality obligations.
	Further guidance on freedom of information and confidentiality obligations is available on the Ministry of Justice Freedom of Information and Office of Government Commerce websites.

Legal Representation: Armed Forces

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funds have been made available in each year since 2003 for legal representation of bereaved families at inquests into deaths of service personnel who have lost their lives as a result of  (a) hostile action and  (b) any other cause of death while serving in HM Armed Forces.

Maria Eagle: Although legal aid is not normally available for representation at inquests, it can be made available under the Access to Justice Act 1999 in certain specified circumstances. Since 2003, the following number of applications for representation of bereaved families at inquests into deaths of service personnel have been granted.
	
		
			   Death as a result of hostile action  Death for other reasons 
			 2003 0 1 
			 2004 0 1 
			 2005 0 1 
			 2006 1 1 
			 2007 4 1

Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the operation of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Jack Straw: It was announced in the Queen's Speech on 6 November that the Government would bring forward proposals on the regulation of party funding and expenditure, I am happy to receive any representations from the hon. Member.

Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what  (a) amendments have been made to and  (b) recent representations he has received about the operation of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The Electoral Administration Act 2006 amended the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 to apply similar rules of transparency and permissibility to loans as already applied to donations. The 2006 Act also made some minor technical amendments relating to the control of donations. The Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 made amendments to the 2000 Act in order to align the rules for donations more closely with those that apply to the rest of the United Kingdom.
	I have received no recent formal representations in my capacity as Secretary of State for Justice on the operation of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
	It was announced in the Queen's Speech on 6 November that the Government would bring forward proposals on the regulation of party funding and expenditure.

Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what  (a) statutory instruments,  (b) departmental circulars and  (c) other documents he (i) has issued and (ii) plans to issue in the next 12 months consequential to the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: I have issued no statutory instruments, departmental circulars or other documents consequential to the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. It was announced in the Queen's Speech on 6 November that the Government would bring forward proposals on the regulation of party funding and expenditure.

Political Parties: Finance

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance his Department has published on compliance with the law governing donations to political parties.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Commission is the body responsible for issuing guidance on the law governing donations to political parties.

Prisoners Release

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were granted early release under the home detention curfew scheme in each year since its introduction, broken down by prison from which the prisoners were released; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The figures requested are in the following table.
	
		
			  HOC releases by prison, 1999 to 2006 
			  Prison name  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Total 14,847 15,510 13,649 20,456 21,188 19,294 17,296 13,666 
			  
			 Acklington 100 70 80 140 110 70 90 70 
			 Aldington 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Altcourse 90 90 140 280 350 280 270 260 
			 Ashfield 0 (1)— (1)— (1)— 20 (1)— (1)— 10 
			 Ashwell 50 190 120 190 250 190 130 100 
			 Askham Grange 120 110 100 120 130 100 70 80 
			 Aylesbury 10 10 (1)— 20 10 10 10 (1)— 
			 Bedford 70 60 50 100 130 190 180 120 
			 Belmarsh 80 140 120 80 120 90 90 50 
			 Birmingham 560 380 240 310 450 770 400 310 
			 Blakenhurst 230 320 310 150 190 180 300 230 
			 Blundeston 20 20 10 30 40 50 30 40 
			 Brinsford 40 70 60 70 60 60 60 30 
			 Bristol 50 60 30 60 50 90 40 10 
			 Brixton 160 110 40 60 90 50 60 30 
			 Brockhill 40 30 20 20 30 50 40 20 
			 Bronzefield 0 0 0 0 0 30 60 40 
			 Buckley Hall 30 40 30 150 220 250 230 70 
			 Bullingdon 210 270 220 390 340 280 270 210 
			 Bullwood Hall 30 40 60 80 60 60 60 30 
			 Camp Hill 40 50 50 50 80 100 60 100 
			 Canterbury 40 50 50 120 170 120 170 90 
			 Cardiff 220 210 170 230 280 220 180 90 
			 Castington 20 10 10 20 10 20 30 20 
			 Channings Wood 80 90 80 90 80 80 90 90 
			 Chelmsford 80 110 80 220 200 70 40 30 
			 Coldingley (1)— 10 20 30 30 20 20 10 
			 Cookham Wood 40 20 20 30 60 80 100 60 
			 Dartmoor 20 20 10 90 70 90 50 40 
			 Deerbolt 40 30 110 160 170 130 150 150 
			 Doncaster 130 150 140 250 330 350 310 240 
			 Dorchester 20 20 20 70 70 60 50 30 
			 Dovegate 0 0 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 0 0 
			 Dover 110 130 130 30 0 0 0 0 
			 Downview 30 40 30 110 120 140 90 90 
			 Drake Hall 320 360 400 420 260 190 160 210 
			 Durham 160 140 80 180 110 140 210 160 
			 East Sutton Park 110 150 110 70 80 50 20 40 
			 Eastwood Park 110 120 40 50 80 120 150 130 
			 Edmunds Hill 0 0 0 0 40 50 150 220 
			 Elmley 90 120 140 210 140 140 70 60 
			 Erlestoke 50 60 40 90 90 100 70 30 
			 Everthorpe 120 70 60 90 210 90 120 140 
			 Exeter 170 140 100 180 160 130 140 80 
			 Featherstone 110 80 60 110 130 80 130 110 
			 Feltham 60 90 60 80 50 20 20 (1)— 
			 Ford 320 380 350 540 660 630 570 370 
			 Forest Bank 0 130 150 270 210 150 140 110 
			 Foston Hall 30 40 30 110 130 90 80 70 
			 Full Sutton 0 (1)— 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 
			 Garth 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— (1)— 0 
			 Glen Parva 150 130 190 370 390 450 350 260 
			 Gloucester 40 70 30 90 80 50 40 30 
			 Grendon 230 230 180 250 320 250 220 190 
			 Guys Marsh 190 180 150 190 160 170 190 130 
			 Haslar (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Haverigg 60 70 100 140 140 100 100 100 
			 Hewell Grange 410 400 440 430 330 310 190 180 
			 Highdown 180 190 90 110 180 130 140 120 
			 Highpoint 190 260 250 380 280 210 140 120 
			 Hindley 40 50 120 80 90 60 30 20 
			 Hollesley Bay 190 210 200 350 300 290 270 220 
			 Holloway 90 100 70 50 30 60 140 120 
			 Holme House 150 70 80 150 160 130 140 140 
			 Hull 70 120 90 190 220 180 110 70 
			 Huntercombe 220 60 20 10 30 20 30 20 
			 Kirkham 930 1110 800 1170 1030 970 760 640 
			 Kirklevington 80 60 60 60 60 30 30 20 
			 Lancaster 30 20 30 60 70 50 50 30 
			 Lancaster Farms 100 130 150 90 60 120 100 50 
			 Latchmere House 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Leeds 150 150 140 260 330 190 270 130 
			 Leicester 20 20 90 170 150 100 50 70 
			 Lewes 120 100 100 110 100 60 50 30 
			 Leyhill 210 380 380 450 400 310 280 220 
			 Lincoln 70 70 70 160 100 80 60 60 
			 Lindholme 240 110 80 130 210 200 180 210 
			 Littlehey 40 50 40 50 70 50 30 10 
			 Liverpool 220 150 170 290 320 490 260 390 
			 Low Newton 100 150 200 230 290 270 150 100 
			 Lowdham Grange 0 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 
			 Maidstone 10 (1)— (1)— 10 20 20 (1)— 0 
			 Manchester 60 120 130 310 240 210 170 90 
			 Moorland 340 360 370 450 450 380 440 330 
			 Morton Hall 280 240 40 80 130 120 90 120 
			 Mount 90 150 90 130 90 60 80 (1)— 
			 New Hall 90 130 130 120 160 200 160 120 
			 No Establishment Stated 30 40 30 40 40 30 30 20 
			 North Sea Camp 340 330 330 480 490 480 380 310 
			 Northallerton 80 90 50 480 650 490 390 250 
			 Norwich 410 360 260 340 270 200 120 70 
			 Nottingham (1)— 50 30 90 20 40 30 30 
			 Onley 230 210 200 280 310 300 340 260 
			 Parc 80 140 20 60 220 230 210 190 
			 Parkhurst (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 0 0 0 
			 Pentonville 180 180 130 210 260 240 160 40 
			 Peterborough 0 0 0 0 0 0 200 290 
			 Portland 100 140 110 160 160 160 120 150 
			 Preston 60 30 30 70 90 40 70 20 
			 Ranby 160 120 100 460 390 240 280 200 
			 Reading 40 60 70 110 140 150 110 70 
			 Risley 80 50 40 50 140 140 140 150 
			 Rochester 30 20 40 90 100 150 160 140 
			 Rye Hill 0 0 0 0 (1)— (1)— 0 0 
			 Send 20 30 60 60 110 100 90 40 
			 Shepton Mallet 50 20 20 30 (1)— 0 0 0 
			 Shrewsbury 170 160 140 230 170 160 90 90 
			 Stafford 80 150 130 190 130 50 60 60 
			 Stanford Hill 490 610 610 600 580 550 430 350 
			 Stocken 80 60 70 150 150 70 80 100 
			 Stoke Heath 70 100 140 250 280 180 160 190 
			 Styal 120 110 110 110 120 170 140 80 
			 Sudbury 200 130 150 300 260 200 350 250 
			 Swaleside (1)— (1)— 0 0 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Swansea 40 60 30 80 80 50 100 70 
			 Swinfen Hall 10 (1)— 20 (1)— 10 (1)— 10 20 
			 Thorn Cross 240 240 180 300 200 280 300 180 
			 Usk 190 230 230 260 300 250 200 150 
			 Verne 30 20 20 30 60 40 30 20 
			 Wandsworth 170 30 110 150 160 110 90 40 
			 Warren Hill 0 0 0 0 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Wayland 100 70 50 100 100 70 60 90 
			 Wealstun 260 320 350 430 410 390 330 280 
			 Weare 180 210 140 250 220 230 160 0 
			 Wellingborough 90 120 90 150 190 110 90 50 
			 Werrington (1)— 10 0 0 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Wetherby 80 30 (1)— (1)— 20 10 20 (1)— 
			 Whatton (1)— (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Winchester 170 150 150 240 230 240 300 210 
			 Wolds 30 90 60 100 60 30 30 40 
			 Woodhill 150 90 40 90 200 170 110 70 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 170 90 50 130 190 250 270 210 
			 Wymott 30 60 30 60 50 60 70 40 
			 (1) Number of cases less than 10.  Note: Figures rounded to the nearest 10. 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisons

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison places he estimates there will be in England and Wales in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009,  (c) 2010,  (d) 2011 and  (e) 2012.

David Hanson: Following the publication of Lord Carter's review of prisons, Securing the Future, the proposed building and modernisation programme is aimed to bring overall net capacity of the prison estate to just over 96,000 places by 2014.
	The individual projects and the time frame to deliver this capacity are being developed.

Prisons

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many safe cells have been installed in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many prisoners committed suicide in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how many of these suicides occurred in safe cells.

Maria Eagle: Finding out the number of safer cells installed during the last 10 years would incur disproportionate cost. However, there are to date in excess of 5,000 safer cells installed across the prison estate.
	The following table provides figures for apparent self-inflicted deaths in each of the last 10 years. There have been 14 such deaths of prisoners located in safer cells in that time.
	
		
			   Self-inflicted deaths( 1)  Self-inflicted deaths in safer cells( 1) 
			 1998 83 0 
			 1999 91 0 
			 2000 81 0 
			 2001 73 2 
			 2002 95 3 
			 2003 94 3 
			 2004 95 1 
			 2005 78 0 
			 2006 67 4 
			 2007(2) 83 1 
			 Total 840 14 
			 (1) The Prison Service definition of self-inflicted deaths is broader than the legal definition of suicide and includes all deaths where it appears that a prisoner has acted specifically to take their own life. This inclusive approach is used in part because inquest verdicts are often not available for some years after a death (some 20 per cent. of these deaths will not receive a suicide or open verdict at inquest). Annual numbers may change slightly from time to time as inquest verdicts and other information become available. (2) To 7 December 2007. 
		
	
	The Prison Service has "safer cells"—no cell can be considered totally "safe"—that can complement a regime providing care of at risk prisoners and reduce risks around impulsive suicide attempts. The use of this type of accommodation should be seen as just one part of the comprehensive suicide prevention strategy. The design of safer cells has several features which can assist staff in the task of managing those at risk from suicide, such as specially designed furniture and fixtures which are manufactured and installed to make the attachment of ligatures very difficult, and access to window bars prevented via-non-opening windows with integral ventilation grills.

Prisons

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many of the 9,500 extra prison places in the building programme already underway will be safe cells;
	(2)  pursuant to his oral statement of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 827-30, on prisons (Carter Review), how many of the additional 10,500 prison places will be safe cells.

Maria Eagle: Existing Prison Service guidance, Prison Service Order 2700 Suicide Prevention and Self Harm Management, on the introduction of safer cells states that for new accommodation all cells in category A, category B and local prisons will be fitted with safer cells to the full safer cell specification and 25 per cent. of category C accommodation will be fitted with safer cells to the full specification.
	All projects within both the existing 9,500 place programme and the additional programme for 10,500 places are assessed individually in response to local requirements. The individual projects to deliver the new capacity are being developed.

Rape: Convictions

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what research the Government has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on differential conviction rates in rape cases in different police force areas in England and Wales.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	Home Office Research entitled "Investigating and Detecting Recorded Offences of Rape" was published on 20 July 2007. It looked at factors affecting detection and conviction rates using case files from eight police forces. The research included a comparison of the conviction rates across the force areas.

Young Offenders: Learning Disability

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many young offenders in England had a learning disability or difficulty at the latest date for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The study "Mental Health Needs and Effectiveness of Provision for Young Offenders in Custody and in the Community" (Professor Richard Harrington and Professor Sue Bailey, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales 2005), identified 23 per cent. of young offenders as having learning difficulties, that is having an IQ of 70 or less.
	The research method used, however, was not able to differentiate between intrinsic learning disabilities and low IQ scores where lack of education was a contributory factor.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Demonstrations

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to receive the  (a) interim and  (b) final report from the Strategic Review of Parading in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: I expect to receive the interim report from the Strategic Review of Parading in the new year. The date of their final report will depend on the time it takes to complete their consultations once the interim report has been published.

Demonstrations

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to publish  (a) an interim and  (b) the final report from the Strategic Review of Parading in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: I expect to publish the interim report from the Strategic Review of Parading in the new year. The final report will be published later in 2008.

Members: Correspondence

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to reply to the letter of 27 September 2007 from the hon. Member for North Down on police officers' pay; and if he will provide an explanation for the delay in replying.

Paul Goggins: Police officer pay in Northern Ireland is considered as part of the national Police Negotiating Board process. I understand that the hon. Lady wrote in identical terms to Home Office Ministers and received a substantive response setting out the Government's position on police pay.
	In view of this Ministers did not send a separate response. I apologise for the confusion and will write setting out the current position with regard to the 2007 police pay award.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Carbon Sequestration

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what capacity building he has undertaken to increase carbon  (a) capture and  (b) storage infrastructure.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government have undertaken a series of measures to build capacity in both carbon capture and carbon dioxide storage. These include:
	supporting one of the world's first commercial scale demonstrations of the full chain of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology on a coal-fired power station;
	developing a regulatory regime for the storage of CO2 (framework to be outlined in the forthcoming Energy Bill);
	establishing a fund, in 2005, of £25 million (since increased to £35 million) to encourage the industry-led demonstration of carbon abatement technologies including CCS;
	funding a three-year programme of research, through the Natural Environment Research Council, into issues related to CCS, particularly storage of carbon dioxide;
	supporting CCS research projects through the Technology Strategy Board programme (during the period 2004-08 we have allocated £11.2 million for research projects into all carbon abatement technologies);
	working with the North Sea Basin Task Force to publish a report focusing specifically on the possibilities for developing a pipeline infrastructure in the North sea for transporting CO2 for permanent storage; and working very closely with the Chinese government to support an EU initiative for a near zero emissions coal project in China which will incorporate CCS technology.

Coal: Pollution Control

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the relative effectiveness of pre-combustion and post-combustion clean coal technologies; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 22 November 2007
	My Department has funded two studies, the reports from which will shortly be available at:
	www.berr.gov.uk
	which have looked at pre- and post-combustion technologies. These show that both technologies are potentially capable of capturing 85 to 90 per cent. of carbon dioxide produced.
	We have selected post-combustion capture for the UK demonstration project since this meets our objective of demonstrating technology that is relevant and transferable to key global markets—particularly in emerging economies. However, we consider that all CCS technologies have the potential to make valuable contributions to reducing carbon emissions and we expect to see all CCS options rolled out once they have been successfully demonstrated.

Coal: Pollution Control

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of pre-combustion clean coal technologies in meeting UK carbon reduction targets.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 22 November 2007
	A modelling study, available at:
	www.berr.gov.uk/files/file19834
	undertaken to inform the UK's Carbon Abatement Technologies strategy showed that carbon capture and storage (involving the deployment of both pre- and post-combustion technologies) would contribute to the UK's carbon reduction targets from about 2020.

Coal: Pollution Control

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans his Department is considering for the encouragement of the use of pre-combustion coal technologies.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 22 November 2007
	The Department has a £35 million programme to support all carbon abatement technologies, including pre-combustion capture technologies and we have funded two research projects, the reports from which will shortly be available at:
	www.berr.gov.uk
	looking specifically at pre-combustion technologies. We are also supporting the wider deployment of all CCS technologies through the development of a regulatory framework to govern the storage of carbon dioxide and other ongoing policy work.
	We selected post-combustion capture for the UK demonstration project since this meets our objective of demonstrating technology that is relevant and transferable to key global markets—particularly in emerging economies. However, we consider that all CCS technologies have the potential to make valuable contributions to reducing carbon emissions and we expect to see all CCS options rolled out once they have been successfully demonstrated.

Radioactive Materials: Transport

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he has taken to consult  (a) London residents and  (b) local authorities in London on the transportation by rail through London of nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	For the purposes of this question 'nuclear waste' will be taken to mean irradiated nuclear fuel (INF) which is transported by rail from nuclear power stations to Sellafield in Cumbria.
	The Government set out their preliminary view on the future of nuclear power in the consultation document, published on 23 May. Chapter 7 of the consultation document considers transport issues. In it the Government believe that the risks of transporting nuclear materials are very small and that there is an effective regulatory framework in place which ensures that these risks are minimised and sensibly managed by industry. The consultation included a question on the transport of nuclear materials, which was:
	"Do you agree or disagree with the Government's views on the transport of nuclear materials? What are your reasons? Are there any significant considerations that you believe are missing? If so, what are they?"
	The Government wrote to all local authorities to make them aware of the consultation and all were invited to the stakeholder meetings we held. The consultation ended on 10 October and the Government are currently carefully considering the responses received before they makes the decision in the new year.

Radioactive Materials: Transport

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the risks arising from the movement of nuclear waste by rail through  (a) tunnels and  (b) inner city areas; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	Under health and safety legislation it is the responsibility of the organisation carrying out any activity to carry out a risk assessment. In the specific case of activities involving radioactive material this is a requirement of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (1999 No. 3232).
	For the purposes of this question "nuclear waste materials" will be taken to mean irradiated nuclear fuel (INF) which is transported by rail from nuclear power stations to Sellafield in Cumbria.
	Particular activities carried out by the DfT in assessing risks associated with INF transport are detailed in my answer to PQ 169395. One of the reports referred to in 169395 (NRPB-W66) looks specifically at the radiological impact of INF transports through London and concludes that it is low.
	Trains transporting INF are timetabled to avoid passing through tunnels at the same time as other trains carrying dangerous goods.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Christmas

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department and its agencies have spent on Christmas  (a) cards,  (b) parties and  (c) decorations in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is as follows.
	
		
			  (a) Expenditure on Christmas cards 
			   Cost (£) 
			 2002 1,985 
			 2003 3,209 
			 2004 3,235 
			 2005 2,135 
			 2006 1,962 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Expenditure on Christmas receptions for NDPBS 
			   Cost (£) 
			 2002 8,735 
			 2003 10,023 
			 2004 6,596 
			 2005 11,378 
			 2006 14,137 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Expenditure on Christmas decorations 
			   Cost (£) 
			 2002 659 
			 2003 685 
			 2004 1,235 
			 2005 814 
			 2006 944

Cost Review Group

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of the meeting of the Cost Review Group on 9 March 2006.

Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply 
	as Minister for the Olympics.
	The meeting of the Cost Review Group on 9 March was not minuted.
	The minutes of the other Cost Review Group meetings will not be placed in the House Library as they are being used to inform the development of our ongoing policy for managing the Olympic project.

Departmental Consultants

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was paid in consultancy fees by his Department in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The amount paid in consultancy fees by the Department since 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 1997-98 465,336 
			 1998-99 329,911 
			 1999-2000 588,321 
			 2000-01 194,075 
			 2001-02 318,416 
			 2002-03 469,480 
			 2003-04 473,785 
			 2004-05 643,924 
			 2005-06 1,161,306 
			 2006-07 852,525

Tourism: Finance

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the £350 million spent by Government annually on supporting tourism, with reference to his evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 25 October 2007.

James Purnell: Public sector tourism spending in 2006-07 is estimated as follows:
	
		
			  Organisation  Spend (£ million) 
			 VisitBritain 49.9 
			 VisitScotland 44.0 
			 VisitWales 22.0 
			 Northern Ireland Tourist Board 18.7 
			 Northern Ireland Tourist Board to the joint Northern Ireland/Eire Tourism Ireland marketing body 12.6 
			 London Development Agency 22.0 
			 London Unlimited (additional marketing and promotional funding for London) 6.0 
			 Non-London Regional Development Agencies 29.8 
			 English local authorities 126.0 
			 Scottish local authorities 4.4 
			 Welsh local authorities 13.0 
			 Total 348.4

Tourism: Marketing

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by  (a) his Department,  (b) regional development agencies and  (c) local authorities on marketing the UK as a tourist destination in each of the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 5 December 2007
	 CMS has allocated the following amounts to marketing the UK and its constituent parts:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 VisitBritain—Britain marketing 35.50 35.50 35.50 
			 VisitBritain—England marketing 13.40 14.40 15.15 
			 London Development Agency 1.90 1.90 1.90 
			 Total 50.80 51.80 52.55 
		
	
	Regional development agencies are not asked to account specifically for there expenditure on tourism marketing. Their definitions are therefore not consistent and reliable. They have, however, provided us with the following estimates of expenditure:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2005-06 31.70 
			 2006-07 27.90 
			 2007-08 20.10 
		
	
	The £1.9 million a year in grant in aid from DCMS to the London Development Agency is included in these figures.
	An additional £3.6 million a year in DCMS grant in aid was made available to the regional development agencies for each of these years for tourism support These amounts were not earmarked specifically for marketing.
	It is not possible to provide figures for local authorities. Most local authorities across the UK support their local tourism industries through marketing and promotional spending. This is not, however, recorded separately from investment in general tourism support.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of Taliban commanders who have surrendered in Afghanistan as a result of  (a) diplomatic and  (b) military action.

Des Browne: Between 1 May 2005, when the Program-Tachim-e Sol' scheme was begun by the Government of Afghanistan, and 1 November 2007, some 4,600 former insurgents have sought reconciliation. No breakdown is available of the past status of these individuals or whether they entered the scheme as a result of diplomatic or military means.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what length of time he expects to elapse before the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment is sent on its next operational tour;
	(2)  what the peace establishment was of the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment before deployment to Afghanistan; what the strength was of the Battalion; how many reinforcements to the Battalion were received from  (a) the regular Army,  (b) the Territorial Army and  (c) the regular Army Reserves; how many of all ranks were (i) left behind on recruitment duties, (ii) physically unfit to deploy and (iii) left behind in barracks to form a rear party; and what the Battalions Battle casualty replacement policy is.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 10 December 2007
	 Prior to their recent deployment to Afghanistan, the peace time establishment of the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment was 600; the Battalion's strength was 500; it received additional reinforcements of 200 Regular Army, fewer than 100 Territorial Army personnel and none from the Regular Army Reserves. Fewer than 100 soldiers remained in the United Kingdom on recruitment duties or were physically unfit to deploy. The rear party is made up of approximately 200 personnel, including a number of appropriately trained theatre reserve soldiers who can be deployed immediately if required.
	The policy on battle casualty replacement is to use rear party deployable personnel. Should this not suffice to rectify a deficiency in a specific skill, replacements would be requested from other units in theatre.
	As disclosure of exact numbers would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of our armed forces. I have rounded all numbers to the nearest 100.
	The force package for each operational tour is announced once it has been finalised. I cannot comment at this stage on the timing of the battalion's next operational tour.

Armed Forces: Housing

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many emergency maintenance requests were made for properties occupied by service personnel and their families in each of the last 12 months; and what the average length of time taken to carry out the maintenance was in each month.

Derek Twigg: The actual length of time taken to carry out the maintenance for individual requests is not recorded. Two areas within Northern Ireland routinely categorise all calls as urgent and have therefore not been included in this response. For the other three areas, the pro rata number of emergency requests made by service personnel and their families during the last 12 months was:
	
		
			   Number of emergency requests made 
			 November 2006 22 
			 December 2006 13 
			 January 2007 19 
			 February 2007 16 
			 March 2007 21 
			 April 2007 8 
			 May 2007 4 
			 June 2007 2 
			 July 2007 4 
			 August 2007 1 
			 September 2007 2 
			 October 2007 7

Armed Forces: Housing

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account is taken of the standards of accommodation for serving military personnel in the Government's overall policy for the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Government recognise that decent accommodation is a fundamental part of the package we give to our armed forces personnel and their families. We are taking a targeted and long-term approach to investing in accommodation, taking account of defence priorities across the board and the need to ensure value from public money.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of posts in his Department were recategorised from back office to frontline posts as classified by the Gershon efficiency review in each year since 2004.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence is committed to achieving work force reductions of 10,000 civilians and 5,000 military administrative and support posts by the end of 2007-08. These are net targets and no posts will be reallocated to the frontline as part of them.

Departmental Coordination

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 309W, on departmental co-ordination, on what date the Foreign and Commonwealth Office consulted his Department about the Bruges speech; and on what date his Department replied.

Des Browne: I refer my right hon. Friend to my previous answer on 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 309W. The normal consultation between the FCO and the MOD on the Foreign Secretary's speech to the College of Europe in Bruges on 15 November occurred during the drafting of the speech.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent in near cash terms on entertainment and hospitality as listed in his Department's resource account code hierarchy in each financial year since 2000-01.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 22 October 2007,  Official Report, column 11W, to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson).

Departmental Pay

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of his Department's staff are employed within each salary band; what the title and role of each position within each salary band is; and for each salary band what the  (a) bonus structure,  (b) retirement provision,  (c) expenses provision,  (d) total expenses incurred in each of the last 10 years,  (e) average age of employee,  (f) number of (i) women and (ii) men and  (g) ethnic composition is.

Derek Twigg: The strength and proportion of civilian personnel employed within each salary band is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Strength and proportion of civilian personnel( 1)  by grade as at 1 April 2007 
			  Headcount 
			   Strength  Percentage 
			 Senior civil service and equivalent(2) 290 0.3 
			 Pay Band B 2,520 2.5 
			 Pay Band C 17,230 16.9 
			 Pay Band D 12,430 12.2 
			 Pay Band E 26,760 26.2 
			 Other non-industrial 860 0.8 
			 Industrial 13,600 13.3 
			 Trading Fund staff 10,250 10.1 
			 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) 2,360 2.3 
			 Locally engaged civilians 15,650 15.4 
			 Total 101,940 100 
			 (1) Data include permanent and casual personnel employed by the Department, the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, Trading Funds and locally engaged civilians. (2 )The senior civil service was formed in 1996. The totals include about 50 personnel outside the senior civil service but of equivalent grade. (3) All strengths are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sum of their rounded parts.  Source:  DASA (Quad-Service) 
		
	
	The Ministry of Defence employs staff in many hundreds of different roles. I have placed in the Library of the House a complete list of the departmental grades, job families and job codes.
	 (a) Staff in the non-industrial broader banded groups and industrial skill zones (excluding Trading Funds) are eligible to receive end of year bonus awards based on relative assessment of performance against their peers. In 2007 up to 75 per cent. of non-industrial staff and 100 per cent. of industrial staff could be awarded one of three tiers of bonuses. For the senior civil service, bonuses are used to reward excellent performance during the year and the award is based on a judgment of how well an individual has performed against their peers. Fixed term employees brought into the Department through fair and open competition have contracts which allow for payment of a non-consolidated, performance related bonus, usually of a maximum of 10 per cent. of basic salary. Individual performance is judged by line managers and, for those who are agency chief executives, there is an annual audit of performance against agency key targets. The Agency owner then takes a view of the individual's performance guided by the independent audit agency and the remuneration committee. MOD also operates a special bonus scheme to reward civilian staff for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of professional qualifications which benefit MOD and the individual. Staff in Trading Funds are subject to separate arrangements which meet their business needs.
	 (b) All MOD civil servants are eligible to belong to a pension scheme. Most belong to the principal civil service pension scheme (PCSPS)—although there are a number of different schemes under the overall PCSPS umbrella. Some analogue grades—such as lecturers, teachers and medical grades—belong to the pension scheme appropriate to that profession such as the teachers pension scheme, the Scottish teachers pension scheme and the NHS pension scheme.
	 (c) An MOD employed civil servant is eligible to claim for the reasonable extra expense of travel and subsistence while on official duty. This may mean travel expenses by public transport, official or private vehicle, the actual bed and breakfast costs where overnight accommodation is required and the reimbursement of actual and reasonable additional meal and refreshment costs while undertaking the official duty.
	 (d) The total costs directly attributed to civilian staff, for travel and subsistence since 2003-04 (excluding Trading Funds, details for which are not held centrally) are:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 117.01 
			 2004-05 127.61 
			 2005-06 133.69 
			 2006-07 135.78 
		
	
	There are additional costs in respect of personnel movements which include car hire, for both military and civilian personnel, which are attributed to one accounting code, for which the civilian cost element can be separately identified only at disproportionate cost.
	Travel costs prior to 2003-04 were attributed to a common accounting code for both military and civilian personnel. Costs for civilian personnel could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.
	 (e) The average age of departmental employees is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Average age of MoD personnel( 1)  as at 1 April 2007 
			   Average age 
			 Senior civil service and equivalent(2) 51.7 
			 Pay Band B 48.4 
			 Pay Band C 46.7 
			 Pay Band D 44.8 
			 Pay Band E 44.4 
			 Other non-industrial 44.7 
			 Industrial 47.4 
			 Trading Fund Staff 42.5 
			 Total 45.3 
			 1. Data include permanent and casual personnel employed by the Department, but exclude Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and locally engaged civilians for whom age data are not centrally held. (2) The senior civil service was formed in 1996. The totals include about 50 personnel outside the senior civil service but of equivalent grade.  Source:  DASA (Quad-Service) 
		
	
	 (f) The number of (i) women and (ii) men employed by the Department is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Strength of civilian personnel( 1)  by sex and grade as at 1 April 2007 
			  Headcount 
			   Female  Male  Total 
			 Senior civil service and equivalent(2) 40 250 290 
			 Pay Band B 520 2,000 2,520 
			 Pay Band C 4,730 12,500 17,230 
			 Pay Band D 4,630 7,800 12,430 
			 Pay Band E 14,880 11,870 26,760 
			 Other non-industrial 630 230 860 
			 Industrial 2,740 10,850 13,600 
			 Trading Fund Staff 2,150 8,100 10,250 
			 Sub total 30,320 53,610 83,930 
			 
			 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA)(3) (4)— (4)— 2,360 
			 Locally engaged civilians(3) (4)— (4)— 15,650 
			 Total (4)— (4)— 101,940 
			 (1) Data include permanent and casual personnel employed by the Department, the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, Trading Funds and locally engaged civilians. (2) The senior civil service was formed in 1996. The totals include about 50 personnel outside the senior civil service but of equivalent grade. (3 )Gender data are not available for royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and locally engaged civilian personnel. (4 )Not available.  Note: All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sum of their rounded parts.  Source: DASA (Quad-Service). 
		
	
	 (g) The ethnic composition of the Department is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Strength of civilian personnel( 1)  by ethnic origin and grade, as at 1 April 2007 
			  Headcount 
			   White  Ethnic minorities  Unknown  Total 
			 Senior civil service and equivalent(2) 240 (3)— 50 290 
			 Pay Band B 2,080 50 400 2,520 
			 Pay Band C 14,020 400 2,820 17,230 
			 Pay Band D 10,520 340 1,570 12,430 
			 Pay Band E 22,430 880 3,450 26,760 
			 Other non-industrial 660 30 170 860 
			 Industrial 9,620 180 3,790 13,600 
			 Trading Fund Staff 7,900 170 2,180 10,250 
			 Sub total 67,450 2,060 14,430 89,930 
			  
			 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA)(4) (5)— (5)— (5)— 2,360 
			 Locally engaged civilians(4) (5)— (5)— (5)— 15,650 
			 Total (5)— (5)— (5)— 101,940 
			 (1 )Data include permanent and casual personnel employed by the Department, the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, Trading funds and locally engaged civilians. (2) The senior civil service was formed in 1996. The totals include about 50 personnel outside the senior civil service but of equivalent grade. (3) Value less than 10. (4) Ethnicity data are not available for Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and locally engaged civilian personnel. (5) Not available.  Note: All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sum of their rounded parts.  Source: DASA (Quad-Service).

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected expenditure on the Nuclear Warhead Capability Sustainment Programme is  (a) in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11 and  (b) over the lifetime of the programme from 2005 to 2015.

Des Browne: Our financial planning for the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) from 1 April 2008 makes no distinction between management and operation costs and those associated with the Nuclear Warhead Capability Sustainment Programme (NWCSP), which we announced on 19 July 2005,  Official  Report, column 59WS. This reflects the incorporation of the NWCSP into the core AWE programme, expenditure on which over the next three years is expected to be:
	
		
			   £ million at outturn prices 
			 2008-09 800 
			 2009-10 900 
			 2010-11 950 
		
	
	On the same basis, expenditure at AWE over the last three years was:
	
		
			   £ million at outturn prices 
			 2005-06 493 
			 2006-07 687 
			 2007-08 (provisional) 799 
		
	
	In line with our announcement of July 2005, some £1.1 billion of the expenditure for the years 2005-06 to 2007-08 is associated with sustaining key skills and facilities.
	Spending plans for 2011-12 and beyond will be set as part of the Government's spending review process.

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the decision was taken to give permission to the US Administration to use Menwith Hill in the Missile Defense system; who took the decision; and what  (a) formal agreement and  (b) memorandum of understanding was produced.

Des Browne: The Government's agreement to missile warning data being routed through RAF Menwith Hill for use in the US missile defence system was given in an exchange of classified letters between the US Defense Secretary (dated 29 June 2007) and the UK Secretary of State for Defence (dated 17 July 2007).

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Government has been obliged to pay to the European Commission as a result of late payments under the new Single Farm Payment Scheme.

Jonathan R Shaw: The current estimate of the total financial correction to be imposed on the UK for failure to meet payment deadlines in respect of the 2005 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) is around £70 million. No such corrections are expected for subsequent scheme years.

Angling: Welsh Assembly Government

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether he has received any representations on amending or reforming the main concordat with the Welsh Assembly Government on fishing; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he plans to change the main concordat with the Welsh Assembly Government on fishing; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I currently have no such plans, nor am I aware of any representations to change the concordat with the Welsh Assembly Government in respect of fisheries.

Avian Influenza: Disease Control

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what restrictions he has placed on the holding of  (a) pigeon shows and  (b) other bird shows because of avian influenza; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 3 December 2007
	EU legislation requires that all bird gatherings are banned unless the member state is satisfied that a risk assessment shows that gatherings would not significantly increase the risk of avian influenza. Therefore, consistent with previous outbreaks, following confirmation of avian influenza in Suffolk on 12 November, all bird gatherings, including falconry displays, fairs, markets, shows (including pigeon shows), exhibitions and pigeon races, were banned throughout Great Britain. This is because in the immediate aftermath of an outbreak there is great uncertainty over undetected infection elsewhere in the country, which means that all bird gatherings are high risk activities.
	This ban was kept under constant review, and following a veterinary risk assessment, all bird gatherings outside non-restricted areas were permitted again from 23 November. As before, this is under the normal general licence conditions of good biosecurity, notification to Animal Health seven days prior to an event and record-keeping. Also, birds coming from outside the British Isles (for example, the UK, Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man but excluding the Channel Islands for these purposes) cannot be taken to a gathering for 28 days after their importation, and pigeons must be isolated from other birds for at least seven days after a race.

Avian Influenza: Pigeons

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received from the Royal Pigeon Racing Association on movement restrictions imposed as a result of avian influenza; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: We have received representations from the Royal Pigeon Racing Association as a result of the most recent avian influenza outbreak. They questioned the proportionality of placing a ban on all bird gatherings nationwide, which includes pigeon shows, markets and racing.
	In the immediate aftermath of an outbreak, there is great uncertainty over undetected infection elsewhere in the country, which means that all bird gatherings are high risk activities. Following confirmation of avian influenza in Suffolk on 12 November, and consistent with EU requirements and previous outbreaks, all bird gatherings were banned throughout Great Britain.
	In the case of the current outbreak and the outbreak at Holton earlier this year, we established within two weeks that the risk of disease circulating outside the restricted zones had returned to the normal low level. The ban was therefore lifted, outside restricted areas, from 23 November.

Avian Influenza: Suffolk

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on accommodation for officials in Suffolk since the outbreak of avian influenza at Park Farm in Redgrave; and for  (a) how many officials and  (b) how long such accommodation was provided.

Jonathan R Shaw: The latest information available indicates that the cost of providing hotel accommodation for officials working on the avian influenza outbreak between 12 November and 2 December was £121,300. 160 individuals were provided with accommodation for a total of 1,295 nights. These figures are subject to revision to take account of any confirmed changes to accommodation from our booking agent.
	In an emergency, a large number of staff need to be found hotel rooms near to the local disease control centre at very short notice. DEFRA employs the services of an external provider to ensure that the most appropriate accommodation is secured and provides the best value for money.

Climate Change: United Nations

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many officials are travelling to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali; and what estimate he has made of the  (a) cost and  (b) volume of carbon dioxide produced by their flights;
	(2)  what consideration he gave to minimising carbon dioxide emissions in the organisation of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali; and whether consideration was given to replacing the Conference with multi-lateral conference calls.

Phil Woolas: The total number of UK Government (including agencies) delegates, including officials and Ministers, attending the UNFCCC conference in Bali is 47. The carbon dioxide emissions attributable to the Defra delegation's flights has been calculated to be 209 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The cost to offset this quantity of CO2, via the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF), which offsets all UK Government ministerial and official travel overseas, is £2,071.19.
	While much necessary contact can be made by electronic means, it is not possible to reach agreement among 192 countries on complex issues without meeting.
	Significant multilateral and bilateral conference calls do of course, take place.

Departmental Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what reviews have been undertaken of his Department's rules on data protection in the last two years; if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the last review of his Department's compliance with data protection laws; and if  (a) his Department and  (b) his Department's agencies will undertake a review of their compliance with data protection laws;
	(2)  how many employees of each grade in his Department  (a) have access to confidential or sensitive data and  (b) are authorised to download such data to disc; how many of his Department's employees have undergone data protection training in the last 12 months; what the average length of time is that each employee of (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies has spent on data protection training; how many investigations of employees of his Department for improperly accessing confidential information have taken place in the last 12 months; how many such investigations resulted in cases of disciplinary action; and what the circumstances of each of those cases were;

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures are in place in his Department to ensure that personal information relating to members of the public is  (a) stored and  (b) transported securely;

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he proposes to review how his Department transports data; and whether his Department uses TNT to transport data;

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to protect the personal data on members of the public which it holds.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Members to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Departmental Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies confidential data have been downloaded on to compact discs (i) without and (ii) with encryption in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; how many of those discs have been posted without using recorded or registered delivery; what procedures his Department has in place for the (A) transport, (B) exchange and (C) delivery of confidential or sensitive data; what records are kept of information held by his Department being sent outside the Department; what changes have been made to his Department's rules and procedures on data protection in the last two years; on how many occasions his Department's procedures and rules on data protection have been breached in the last five years; what those breaches were; what procedures his Department has in place on downloading confidential data on to computer discs before its transfer; what technical protections there are in his Department's computer systems to prevent access to information held on those systems which is not in accordance with departmental procedures; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each of his Department's rules and procedures on the protection of confidential data on individuals, businesses and other organisations;

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many breaches of data protection security there were in  (a) his Department or  (b) his Department's agencies in each of the last five years; and if he will provide details of each breach;

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 requiring investigation there have been in the last five years in his Department; what the nature of such breaches were; and what the results of the investigations were in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Members to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.
	In addition to this I also refer the hon. Member to a previous response made on 13 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1028W, regarding the number of breaches.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions the Information Commissioner was contacted by his Department to report breaches of data protection security in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: There have been no occasions where the Information Commissioner has been contacted by the Department to report breaches of data protection security.
	In addition to this response I also refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Departmental Data Protection

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many confirmed data security breaches there have been in his Department in the last 36 months; and what action was taken after each occurrence.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.
	In addition to this, I also refer the hon. Member to a previous response made on the 13 June 2007.  Official Report, column 1028W, regarding the number of breaches.

Departmental Pay

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of his Department's staff are employed within each salary band; what the title and role of each position within each salary band is; and for each salary band what the  (a) bonus structure,  (b) retirement provision,  (c) expenses provision,  (d) total expenses incurred in each of the last 10 years,  (e) average age of employee,  (f) number of (i) women and (ii) men and  (g) ethnic composition is.

Jonathan R Shaw: In DEFRA, staff pay bands generally equate to administrative grade equivalents. The number and proportion of DEFRA staff employed in each grade equivalent as at 30 November 2007 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Grade equivalent  Full-time equivalents  Percentage 
			 AA 116.81 3.5 
			 AO 580.55 17.3 
			 EO 603.00 18.0 
			 HEO 844.28 25.1 
			 SEO 372.53 11.1 
			 Grade 7 527.23 15.7 
			 Grade 6 158.01 4.7 
			 SCS 156.57 4.7 
			 Total 3,358.98 100.0 
		
	
	The bonus structure is as follows:
	 For the SCS
	Non-consolidated cash payments, otherwise known as bonuses, reward in-year performances in relation to agreed objectives, or short term personal contribution to wider organisational objectives. Bonuses are paid in addition to base pay increases and do not count towards pension.
	Bonuses are allocated by departments from a 'pot' expressed as a percentage of the SCS salary bill, which is agreed centrally each year following the SSRB recommendations. The intention is that bonus decisions should be differentiated in order to recognise the most significant deliverers of in-year performance.
	 For Staff at Grade 6 and below
	The high performance bonus awards scheme introduced in April 2005 provide DEFRA staff with recognition and reward for delivery of an outstanding outcome or performance that significantly exceeds normal expectations. The process should provide staff at all grades with an opportunity to earn a bonus, and ensure that achievements in operational, policy and corporate services areas are recognised as being of equal esteem.
	There are two types of award:
	In-year high performance bonuses paid to individuals or teams in recognition of one-off achievements during the year; and
	Annual high performance bonuses which are paid to the top 10 per cent. of performers in each group for delivery of an outstanding outcome or performance sustained throughout the whole year.
	The latest published information on the gender breakdown and ethic composition of civil servants is as at 30 September 2006 and is available in tables N and O at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/CivilService2006TablesandCharts.xls.
	The other information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies spent on end-of-year bonus payments in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: Payment of non-consolidated performance bonuses reflects the principle across the civil service of rewarding performance through one-off, non-consolidated payments. End-of-year bonuses are awarded to staff for high performance sustained throughout the whole year.
	The following table shows details of end-of year bonuses awarded to SCS staff in core-Defra and its Executive Agencies in accordance with Cabinet Office arrangements; and for staff below the SCS in core-Defra and those Agencies covered by the core-Department's reward arrangements (Animal Health, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Services). Data prior to 2005 are available only at disproportionate cost due to systems changes.
	
		
			   Defra (£) 
			 2003 — 
			 2004 — 
			 2005 2,765,045 
			 2006 2,568,449 
			 2007 2,854,598 
		
	
	The total sums paid annually in performance bonuses equate to a little over 1 per cent. of paybill.
	For staff below SCS in Defra's other Executive Agencies (Central Science Laboratory, Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Rural Payments Agency and Veterinary Laboratories Agency), who have pay delegation, the following table illustrates the amount of end-of year bonus payments over the last five years. For the RPA, data prior to 2004 are available only at disproportionate costs due to systems changes; and 2007 end-of-year bonuses have not yet been finalised.
	
		
			  £ 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 CSL 117,937 140,095 143,743 176,901 233,049 
			 CEFAS 310,000 360,000 530,000 650,000 680,000 
			 RPA — 323,567 249,025 243,072 — 
			 VLA 33,065 30,777 35,034 39,120 45,357

Departmental Postal Services

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many items of post sent by his Department and its predecessor were reported missing by the intended recipient in each year since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and Agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what opinion polls his Department has conducted of  (a) the public and  (b) staff since 27 June 2007; and what the (i) name of the firm employed to conduct the poll, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost to the public purse was in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following surveys have been carried out by or on behalf of DEFRA since 27 June 2007:
	
		
			  Survey title  Purpose  Contracted research company  Anticipated cost (£) 
			 RPA Customer Satisfaction survey Measure progress and impact of organisational changes and to identify areas for business improvement. Kadence 80,928 
			 Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate Customer satisfaction survey To monitor performance and customer satisfaction DEFRA—in house 1,740 
			 Veterinary Medicine Directorate Feedback Survey To ensure that VMD can improve the services it provides to "paying" customers and formally show that it cares about its customers views Cognition Market Intelligence 50,000 
			 Natural England Stakeholder Survey Establishing relationships with partner organisations which help to achieve outcomes for the natural environment Market Research Services 40,000 
			 Business Attitudes to Resource Efficiency To monitor any changes in attitudes to the opportunities provided by the Business resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programmes Continental research 10,000 
			 Attitudes to Climate Change—wave 6 To monitor attitudes towards, and understanding of, Climate Change following the implementation of its Climate Change Strategy ICM 31,436 
			 Chewing Gum Action Group Campaign evaluation Tracking research to measure campaign awareness and to re-gauge attitudes BMRB Social Research 59,150 
			 Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restrictions of Chemicals (REACH) Awareness Raising Campaign tracking research Tracking research to measure campaign success and to determine levels of awareness and implications of the policy GFK 31,350 
			 Natural Environment Communications Research Baseline research about general attitudes and behaviour among citizens towards the Natural Environment Edcomms 41,200 
			 Identifying Key Water Saving Messages To identify consumer awareness and attitudes towards water resources as well as citizens' ability to adopt water efficient practices MVA Consultancy 30,356 
			 Waste Infrastructure Research To identify public awareness of knowledge and attitudes to waste disposal Navigator 58,550

Energy: Conservation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what investigations he has undertaken of the Cheltenham Rule to increase energy efficient methods in new builds and reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	I understand the Cheltenham Rule is a proposal for metering energy use by developers. I have received no representations about the rule and I am not aware of any local authorities which have implemented anything equivalent.
	In the Energy White Paper we set out our ambitions for all homes to incorporate smart meters and real time display devices. The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform consultation on these proposals closed at the end of October 2007, and the Government are considering all views received during this consultation period and will make a further announcement in the new year.

Fisheries: EU Law

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 19 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 512-13W, on fisheries: EU law, how the estimated costs of implementing the European rules on electronic recording and reporting of fishing activities have changed; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The discussions between member states and the Commission on the detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation 1966/2006 on electronic recording and reporting of fishing activities and on means of remote sensing will be completed shortly. Until these discussions are concluded, the estimates of costs provided to the House in July (19 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 512-13W ) are still believed to be the best estimates available.

Fisheries: Protection

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency provisions are in place to provide fisheries enforcement in the event of all three river class offshore patrol vessels being unavailable for operation at the same time under the terms of the contract for the use of the Fishery Protection Squadron which enters into force on 1 April 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The agreement drawn up, which enters into force with effect from 1 April 2008, does not provide any contingency for a situation where all three River Class vessels are unavailable for fishery protection duties. In discussion with the Ministry of Defence, the Marine and Fisheries Agency considered that the risk of having no fishery protection cover for any lengthy period was low. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Defence would seek to provide suitable replacement patrol vessels if there is extended "time off task" by one of the River Class Patrol vessels.

Fisheries: Subsidies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the press release issued on 27 November 2007 by his Department, how much funding the Government plan to provide to the fishing industry in addition to that provided by the European Fisheries Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The amount of money the Government intend to make available will be indicated in the financial tables of the draft Operational Programme for the European Fisheries Fund which will be subject to a consultation. This will be a 12-week consultation which I expect to commence early in 2008.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Compensation

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid to Scottish farmers and crofters by the UK Government consequent upon the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and what proportion of this was compensation for  (a) the culling of livestock and  (b) economic losses.

Jonathan R Shaw: Based on the Economic Report on Scottish Agriculture, the total compensation payments made to Scottish farmers and crofters for animals culled during the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak was £189.713 million. No payments were made for economic losses.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Wiltshire

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the compensation allocated to farmers following the foot and mouth crisis in August has been allocated to Wiltshire.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Animal Health Act 1981 and Human Rights legislation requires that compensation is paid for animals compulsorily killed and property compulsorily destroyed to prevent the spread of disease. Therefore, as there was no foot and mouth disease in Wiltshire, no compensation has been paid to farmers there.
	As part of the £12.5 million support package announced on 8 October, farmers in Wiltshire will benefit from the £2 million allocated to promote the sales of lamb, beef and pork domestically and in our export markets, which we are doing all we can to return to normal within the EU by January. They will also have access to the support provided through a donation of up to £1 million to the Arthur Rank Centre for disbursement to Farming Help charities, which provide advice and practical and emotional support to farming families.

Gleadthorpe Farm

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) the market value and  (b) his Department's valuation is of his Department's Gleadthorpe Cottages in Meden Vale.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 3 December 2007
	The 15 residential dwellings at Gleadthorpe farm reverted back to direct Departmental management following the surrender of the ADAS farm tenancy on 28th September 2007.
	The only valuation the Departmental has commissioned to date is a market valuation assuming vacant possession for the purposes of making 'offers to purchase' to the qualifying tenants in line with the right to buy provisions under the Housing Act. This is the appropriate valuation basis for the market value provided.
	The market value of the cottages as reported by the Department's valuer is £1,825,000.
	The Department does not currently have any other valuations of the cottages.

Health Insurance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies have private health insurance provided as part of their employment package.

Jonathan R Shaw: Neither DEFRA nor its executive agencies provide private health insurance to any members of staff as part of their employment package.

Livestock: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the Department's plans to introduce cost-sharing with farmers for the control of animal diseases.

Jonathan R Shaw: We aim to consult before the end of the year on principles and possible options for implementing responsibility and cost-sharing measures for the control of animal diseases.

Opinion Leader Research

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Opinion Leader Research in each year since 1997; and what was  (a) the title and purpose,  (b) the cost to the public purse and  (c) the dates of (i) tender, (ii) award, (iii) operation and (iv) completion and report to the Department in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA came into being in June 2001. From information held centrally the core-department's expenditure with Opinion Leader Research in the financial years 2003-04 to 2007-08 (to date) is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Expenditure 
			 2003-04 38,661.36 
			 2004-05 116,207.50 
			 2005-06 88,953.62 
			 2006-07 171,017.72 
			 2007-08 (to date) 48,833.59 
		
	
	The department does not hold centrally the title and purpose of each project, and the dates on which the project was put to tender, carried out, completed and its findings put to the department. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Poultry Meat: Labelling

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has considered taking to introduce clearer labels and guidance on poultry meat for consumers; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 5 December 2007
	Labelling and guidance for consumers on poultry meat extends to various product attributes and advice on cooking and handling and the Food Standards Agency is the lead Government Department on general food labelling and guidance. Labelling on poultry meat, in common with all foods, is also subject to the legislative requirements on food labelling. Specific provisions governing marketing standards and labelling of (uncooked) poultry meat are laid down in EU regulations, notably Council Regulation No. 1906/90 and Commission Regulation No. 1538/91 (both as amended). As the EU Commission are in the process of reviewing the latter, decisions on labelling in these areas are likely to await the outcome of this.

Radioactive Materials: Waste Management

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the extent to which proposers of any new nuclear stations should be responsible for the costs of nuclear waste management, with reference to his reply on a blog on energy and environmental policy hosted by the No. 10 Downing Street website on 19 November, that it would be for the proposers of any nuclear power stations to cover the cost of nuclear waste primarily.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 6 December 2007
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Government set out in our recent public consultation "The Future of Nuclear Power" our preliminary view that it is in the public interest to give private sector energy companies the option of investing in new nuclear power stations. In the event that we confirm our preliminary view, the consultation sets out in detail, a process to design financing arrangements that will ensure nuclear power station operators accumulate sufficient funds to meet their costs of waste disposal and decommissioning and that these funds are secure, even in extreme situations, such as insolvency. This mechanism would be set out in legislation.

Sugar Beet

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will seek to ensure that British Sugar's application to surrender quota back to the EU is not agreed unless British Sugar agrees terms for compensation to Shropshire  (a) sugar beet growers and  (b) contractors whose businesses are affected.

Jonathan R Shaw: British Sugar's application, including these elements, is under active consideration and we shall announce in due course the envisaged distribution of aid in the event that the application is approved.

Young People

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff aged between 16 and 18 were employed by his Department and its predecessors  (a) directly and  (b) through an employment agency in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of these were given time off work to undertake some form of training; and what proportion were provided with some form of training (i) wholly and (ii) partially funded by his Department.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information on the age of new entrants to the Department is available only from 2004 and is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of 16 to 18-year-olds recruited 
			 2004 23 
			 2005 23 
			 2006 6 
			 2007 (to 30 November) 3 
		
	
	The other information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Airports

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the significance of civilian use of Kandahar International Airport to the economic development of Regional Command South in Afghanistan.

Douglas Alexander: DFID has made no assessment of the significance of civilian use of Kandahar International airport to the economic development of Regional Command South. However, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is planning to commission an assessment of civil use of the airport in January 2008, as part of a wider economic assessment of the region. We shall seek a copy of their assessment in due course.

Africa: Health Services

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the Maputo Plan of Action; and how he intends to support the African Union and African national governments' implementation of the Maputo Plan of Action.

Gareth Thomas: DFID fully supports the aims of the African Union Maputo Plan of Action on Maternal health which is consistent with the DFID strategy 'Reducing maternal deaths: evidence and action'.
	At regional level, DFID works closely with the African Union Commission and others responsible for the Maputo Plan.
	DFID recently pledged an additional £100 million over five years to the UNFPA global programme for reproductive health commodity security (GPRHCS). The aim is to increase sexual and reproductive health supplies in developing countries and to develop capacity to resolve problems of sexual reproductive health commodity insecurity.
	We will continue to work closely with governments. For example, in Sierra Leone we are providing £50 million over the next 10 years to rebuild the health system to deliver basic services in sexual, reproductive and child health. In Kenya DFID is supporting a £7.5 million essential health services project over five years, working alongside the government and with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the European Commission (EC). This will include strengthening reproductive maternal health services (in Nyanza province) and the provision of socially marketed contraceptives.

AIDS: Children

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the progress of his strategy for supporting children with AIDS.

Gareth Thomas: Tackling the needs and rights of children affected by AIDS remains at the heart of the DFID response. DFID is committed to spending at least £150 million to meet the needs of children affected by AIDS over three years to 2008.
	DFID is working with UNICEF to support national orphans and vulnerable children plans in 13 African countries, to help ensure such plans are fully in line with broader national HIV/AIDS plans, and other social sector plans, especially education, health and social welfare.
	Strengthening health services is the most sustainable way to improve child health and to address the health aspects of HIV and AIDS. The International Health Partnership, launched by the Prime Minister in September 2007, will help ensure that donor resources are better co-ordinated, that they back strong national health development plans and that they focus on strengthening the health systems that deliver better services.
	We are also supporting social protection interventions in seven African countries. These programmes are providing predictable and regular cash transfers to households looking after vulnerable children which have been shown to be a simple and cost-effective way to ensure children get the nutrition, education and health care they need.

Christmas

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department and its agencies have spent on Christmas  (a) cards,  (b) parties and  (c) decorations in each of the last five years.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has produced its own Christmas cards since 2004 for partners and stakeholders. Prior to this DFID purchased cards from UNICEF.
	The information requested is in the following table:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003 (1)4,500 
			 2004 (2)2,211 
			 2005 (2)2,102 
			 2006 (2)2,169 
			 2007 (3)2,674 
			 (1) 6,000 cards purchased from UNICEF. (2) 7,000 cards. (3) Expected costs (7,000 cards). 
		
	
	DFID does not pay for Christmas parties or decorations.

Ethiopia: Foreign Exchange

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what currency transactions over the value of £25,000 have been made by his Department involving changing pounds sterling into local currency in Ethiopia in the last six months.

Gareth Thomas: In the last six months DFID Ethiopia has made the following transfers from sterling into Ethiopian birr:
	
		
			  £ 
			 Date Value 
			 27 July 2007 250,627.57 
			 8 October 2007 250,000.00

Indonesia: Overseas Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development projects his Department has sponsored in the Papua region of Indonesia; and what their budgets are for  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has funded the following programmes in Papua province during the period in question:
	(i) through the decentralisation support facility, assistance is being provided to the provincial government of Papua to strengthen its capacity in areas such as public financial management, infrastructure and community-driven development. It is difficult to identify precise budgets for these activities as they form part of a broader programme for Eastern Indonesia, but approximate figures are £150,000 for calendar year 2007, and £300,000 for 2008.
	(ii) the UK-Indonesia multi-stakeholder forestry programme (MFP) has operated in Papua, among other regions. Activities under this programme include support for forest policy reform, indigenous and other local community land rights, economic livelihoods, and tackling deforestation and illegal logging. Further information on this innovative programme can be found in the book 'Aid That Works', published in 2006 and available from DFID. Funding under MFP for Papua in 2007-08 is likely to amount to approximately £120,000. Funding levels for 2008-09 have not yet been set.
	(iii) through the Indonesia Partnership Fund for HIV/AIDS (IPF), DFID is supporting the strengthening of the two Provincial AIDS Commissions for Papua and West Papua, as well as district AIDS Commissions, primarily through the National AIDS Commission Secretariat. In addition, Family Health International and the Indonesian HIV Prevention and Care Project both have HIV programmes in Papua and West Papua which receive support from DFID through the IPF. This work focuses on health system strengthening, providing care, support and treatment to people living with HIV, and prevention of sexual transmission of HIV in the two provinces. It is not possible to disaggregate the financial disbursement data sufficiently to indicate expenditure by province without incurring disproportionate costs.

Iraq: Electricity

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department has implemented to improve the availability of electricity to local people in  (a) Basra,  (b) Maysan,  (c) Dhi Qar and  (d) Al Muthanna provinces; and how much was spent on such projects in each year since 2003.

Douglas Alexander: Since 2003, DFID has allocated over £100 million for infrastructure regeneration projects. This has helped create employment for several thousand Iraqis in repairing some of southern Iraq's key infrastructure. We have already added or secured 415 MW of electricity to the Iraqi national grid, and will be adding or securing a further 60 MW over the next few months—this is the equivalent to providing 24 hour electricity for around one million people. This has been achieved by repairing damaged electricity transmission and distribution networks, including transmission lines from Al-Hartha power station to Basra city (securing electricity supplies for 1.5 million residents), and the Al-Hartha power station chimney (securing electricity supplies for 340,000 people).
	Since 2003, we have spent the following amounts to improve electricity in southern Iraq (we do not have this information broken down by individual governorates).
	
		
			   £ million 
			   Support to electricity sector 
			 2003-04 8 
			 2004-05 6 
			 2005-06 7 
			 2006-07 7

Kuwait

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's personnel were based in Kuwait in support of Operation Telic in each year since 2003.

Douglas Alexander: Five DFID staff were based in Kuwait in early 2003 and were involved in civil/military liaison and co-ordination with UN agencies. From April 2003, all DFID personnel moved to either Baghdad or Basra.

Microcredit Summit Campaign

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to help achieve the targets of the Microcredit Summit Campaign to ensure that 175 million of the world's poorest families, especially women, are receiving credit for self-employment and other financial and business services by the end of 2015.

Gareth Thomas: DFID regards microcredit as part of a broader strategy to promote financial sectors that are stronger and more inclusive of the needs of poor people, including women. The UK's 2006 White Paper on International Development commits us to tackle the barriers that prevent poor people from gaining access to markets and financial services, and supporting microfinance initiatives, particularly in partnership with banks and regulators.
	DFID currently supports 58 financial sector initiatives, which include microcredit and business development services, in 25 countries. By May 2007, DFID had contributed approximately £180 million to financial sector programmes. A further £140 million has already been committed to support existing programmes in future years.

Reviews

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) reviews,  (b) consultations and  (c) task forces his Department is (i) responsible for and (ii) scheduled to initiate; on what date each (A) started and (B) is expected to be completed; and what the purpose is of each.

Gareth Thomas: Information on consultations is published on the 10 Downing street website at:
	www.pm.gov.uk.
	Other reviews, consultations and task forces currently under way are listed in the following table.
	DFID's Evaluation Department carries out 20 to 25 independent evaluations per year, which are published on the website at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.
	When drawing up its country assistance plans and other policies, DFID uses various means of consultation, including using working groups and formal written consultations to engage with local, regional and UK stakeholders. These often include partner governments, local and UK civil society, other donors, international agencies, academia and other UK Government Departments.
	
		
			   Start  Finish  Purpose 
			  Consultations 
			 Burundi country engagement plan Around February 2008 Not yet specified Preparation of country engagement plan. 
			 Hunger Alliance Regular discussions Ongoing Discussions with NGOs about hunger in Africa. 
			 Kenya country assistance plan December 2007 January 2008 Preparation of country assistance plan. 
			 Indonesia strategy Autumn 2007 Early 2008 Consultation on programmes with government, donors and other stakeholders. 
			 
			  Task force 
			 UK remittances task force. (This is an industry task force led by the private sector, with banks, money transfer operators and industry associations as members.) February 2006 No specific time line has been defined for this task force. The aim is to reduce barriers to remittance flows from the UK to developing countries.

Sierra Leone: Politics and Government

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department plans to give to the newly elected Members of Parliament in Sierra Leone.

Gareth Thomas: Under the programme Promoting Information and Voice for Transparency on Elections' DFID is funding the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) to provide a number of seminars to newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) in Sierra Leone. On 19 and 20 November, a cross-party delegation of UK MPs delivered the first seminar on 'Becoming an Effective MP'. A further two seminars, on the role of MPs in Opposition and the role of MPs in Government, will be delivered in January/February 2008.
	In addition, under the first phase of a new Parliamentary Strengthening Programme', delivered through the National Democratic Institute (NDI), DFID is supporting a co-ordinated induction programme for new MPs in the Sierra Leone Parliament. This includes an assessment of the existing capacity/needs of MPs, development of a Members' Directory and training on the representative responsibilities of MPs.
	Support to specific Parliamentary Committees is also planned. This will include assistance to the Public Accounts Committee to effectively scrutinise public accounts on the basis of the Auditor General's reports. If Parliament requests, DFID may fund a further phase of this 'parliamentary strengthening programme'.

TRANSPORT

Biofuels

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the potential of second-generation bio-fuels.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Advanced biofuel production processes, including so-called "second generation" biofuels, offer the potential to deliver very high levels of greenhouse gas savings from the transport sector in a highly sustainable way. This is principally because they may allow liquid transport fuels to be produced efficiently from a much wider range of sources than is possible today (including wood, agricultural residues and the organic fraction of municipal waste).
	Many of these processes are proven at laboratory scale, and a number of demonstration projects are up and running in various parts of the world. There remains considerable uncertainty, however, as to whether, and if so when, they will become viable at commercial scale.
	European Union Heads of Government have made clear that future biofuel targets (including the 10 per cent. by 2020 target agreed at the March 2007 European Council) should be conditional on second generation biofuels becoming commercially available. This is to ensure that these targets can be delivered in a sustainable and cost-effective way.
	The UK Government are aiming to incentivise the development of advanced biofuels under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. Further details of how this might be done are set out in a policy paper which is available via the Department's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/rtfo/secrtfostake/informalpolicypaper.

Crossrail Line

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what oversight will be provided by  (a) her Department and  (b) the Mayor of London of cost management of Crossrail construction;

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  (2) what estimate she has made of the proportion of the contribution to Crossrail to be made by London business identified in the pre-Budget report which will be made by  (a) the Corporation of London,  (b) the Canary Wharf Group and  (c) BAA;
	(2)  what her Department's responsibilities are regarding the oversight of the construction of Crossrail; what responsibilities she is delegating to the Mayor of London; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement on Crossrail made by the Secretary of State on 26 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 4-5WS.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the total amount of carbon emissions produced by her Department in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has submitted annual returns on energy usage and road mileage to the Sustainable Development Commission. The following represents those figures in the form of carbon emissions.
	
		
			   Carbon emissions (kgC) 
			 2002-03 6,864,725 
			 2003-04 7,903,546 
			 2004-05 9,615,941 
			 2005-06 10,580,772 
			 2006-07 10,632,494

Departmental Christmas

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department and its agencies have spent on Christmas  (a) cards,  (b) parties and  (c) decorations in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is set out in the following table. Figures are inclusive of VAT.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Christmas:  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002 
			  Central Department  
			  (a) 2,058 1,780 2,114 2,055 859 
			  (b) — — — — — 
			  (c) 1,077 1,042 801 (1)— (1)— 
			   
			  Highways Agency  
			  (a) 3,750 3,050 — 3,930 (1)— 
			  (b) — — — — — 
			  (c) — — — — — 
			   
			  Maritime and Coastguard Agency  
			  (a) 8,484 1,769 5,902 4,865 5,147 
			  (b) 6,839 6,621 5,991 — — 
			  (c) — — — — — 
			   
			  Vehicle and Operator Services Agency  
			  (a) — 664 309 282 n/a 
			  (b) — — — — n/a 
			  (c) — — — — n/a 
			   
			  Vehicle Certification Agency  
			  (a) — — — 174 (1)— 
			  (b) — — — — (1)— 
			  (c) — — — — (1)— 
			   
			  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency  
			  (a) 2,879 2,981 3,465 (1)— (1)— 
			  (b) — — — — — 
			  (c) — — — — — 
			   
			  Driving Standards Agency  
			  (a) 2,641 3,213 1,034 2,009 (1)— 
			  (b) — — — — — 
			  (c) — — — — — 
			   
			  Government Car and Despatch Agency  
			  (a) — — n/a n/a n/a 
			  (b) — — n/a n/a n/a 
			  (c) (1)— (1)— n/a n/a n/a 
			 (1) No data.  Notes: 1. Vehicle and Operator Services Agency was formed in 2003. 2. Government Car and Despatch Agency became an agency of the Department in 2005

Departmental Consultants

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much was paid in consultancy fees by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions between 1997 and May 2002;
	(2)  how much was paid in consultancy fees by her Department in each year since its establishment.

Jim Fitzpatrick: For details of consultancy fees paid by the Department in each year since it was established I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs. Villiers) of 3 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 852-53W.
	Due to machinery of government changes that took place in May 2002 information on what predecessor Departments spent on consultancy is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of posts in her Department have been recategorised from back office to frontline posts as classified by the Gershon efficiency review in each year since 2004.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department is committed to achieving work force reductions of 700 full-time equivalent posts by the end of 2007-08. The Department's response to Sir Peter Gershon's efficiency review does not include plans for any recategorisation of posts, only to achieve a net reduction.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions she has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by her Department in the procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibit the assignment of debt.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The standard terms and conditions used for the purchase of goods and services prohibit the assignment of debt without the prior written consent of the Department.

Departmental Publicity

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by her Department on advertising in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The last full year for which these figures are available is the 2006-07 fiscal year. In that fiscal year, the Department and its agencies spent £23,966,258 on advertising.
	The majority of advertising investment by the central Department is in support of the THINK! road safety and Act on CO2 campaigns. Figures for recruitment advertising for specific posts are not included in this figure. These are not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued to staff maintaining her Department's and its agencies' corporate identity; and what the estimated annual cost is of  (a) producing and  (b) complying with such guidelines.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Corporate identity guidelines are generally published electronically on intranets. There is no annual cost.
	The annual cost of guidelines that are produced as printed documents for staff in the Department and agencies is £1,325.
	In producing publications and other relevant materials there are no additional costs involved in complying with corporate guidelines. Using corporate templates generally reduces design costs.

Departmental Relocation

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department plans to move any of its offices to Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no plans in place to relocate any of the Department's offices to the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency. The Department remains firmly committed to examining the possibility of relocation opportunities in the future where this meets business need and delivers benefits.

Departmental Travel

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to reduce the amount of travel her officials undertake.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport and its agencies have policies in place which require officials to consider alternative communication methods, such as video and teleconferencing, before deciding to travel, and then to travel only when strictly necessary. The Department has introduced a sustainable travel policy which requires officials to plan their travel effectively considering not only economy, but also environmental impact in choice of travel mode.
	Across the wider Department further initiatives to reduce business travel and its impact are being introduced. These include car and lift sharing schemes, national travel plans and reductions in travel budget targets.
	Measures are also being introduced to reduce the impact of commuting including flexible and remote working and cycle to work schemes.

Departmental Visits Abroad

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department spent on overnight accommodation for Ministers overseas in the last year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Details of the cost of overseas travel, including the cost of travel and accommodation, are contained in the "Overseas Travel by Cabinet Ministers" list. The latest list for the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the 2007-08 financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. All travel is made in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Fisheries: Compensation

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of whether the arrangements made by London Gateway Port for a disturbance compensation scheme comply with the conditions of approval for the development.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The London Gateway Port disturbance payments scheme is a commercial matter between London Gateway Port Ltd. and local fishermen affected by dredging operations for port construction. The scheme is not a condition of the Secretary of State's approval for the development.

Fishing Vessels

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many UK fishing vessels have been lost at sea in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Between 1 December 2006 and 30 November 2007 reports of 13 accidental losses at sea of UK registered fishing vessels were received by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

Great Western Trains

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the performance of First Great Western in operating its train franchise.

Tom Harris: Improving rail performance is a key objective for the Department for Transport. Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and First Great Western to address performance issues. Additionally, First Great Western has implemented a 40-point recovery plan. These are monitored monthly. I recently met with First Great Western's new chief operating officer and Network Rail's new route director to discuss performance.
	In the year to 13 October 2007 FGW achieved an average punctuality of 82.6 per cent. across the franchise as a whole and 84.5 per cent. during the preceding four week period.

Heathrow Airport: Noise

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the role continuous descent approach can play in mitigating noise from Heathrow airport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Aircraft landing at Heathrow are required whenever practicable to follow continuous descent approach or "low power, low drag" procedures, although the main noise benefits are outside the 57dBA Leq noise contour. This is consistent with the recommendations in the industry Code of Practice "Noise from Arriving Aircraft ; An Industry Code of Practice" on the benefits of CDA as a means of reducing both fuel burn and noise. The Code of Practice can be accessed on the Department's website (www.dft.gov.uk).

Heathrow Airport: Publicity

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many households have been sent the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport Summary consultation document, broken down by  (a) London borough and  (b) ward; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 10 December 2007
	More than 200,000 households around Heathrow have been sent a copy of the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport summary consultation document and response form. This included over 165,000 households in 54 wards in seven London boroughs.
	By London borough the breakdown of households which received these documents is as follows (all figures rounded to the nearest 100).
	
		
			  London borough  Delivery addresses 
			 Ealing 4,600 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 22,700 
			 Hillingdon 10,100 
			 Hounslow 71,400 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 300 
			 Richmond upon Thames 36,900 
			 Wandsworth 19,100 
		
	
	By ward the breakdown is as follows:
	
		
			  Ward  Borough  Delivery address 
			 Elthorne Ealing 100 
			 Northfield Ealing 1,800 
			 Norwood Green Ealing 800 
			 Southall Green Ealing 1,900 
			 Fulham Broadway Hammersmith and Fulham 1,700 
			 Fulham Reach Hammersmith and Fulham 800 
			 Munster Hammersmith and Fulham 4,200 
			 Palace Riverside Hammersmith and Fulham 3,000 
			 Parsons Green and Walham Hammersmith and Fulham 4,000 
			 Sands End Hammersmith and Fulham 4,800 
			 Town Hammersmith and Fulham 4,200 
			 Botwell Hillingdon 400 
			 Heathrow Villages Hillingdon 4,400 
			 Pinkwell Hillingdon 3,800 
			 Townfield Hillingdon <50 
			 West Drayton Hillingdon 1,500 
			 Bedfont Hounslow 2,900 
			 Brentford Hounslow 5,300 
			 Chiswick Homefields Hounslow 1,400 
			 Chiswick Riverside Hounslow 4,800 
			 Cranford Hounslow 4,000 
			 Feltham North Hounslow 3,900 
			 Hanworth Hounslow 1,800 
			 Hanworth Park Hounslow 1,500 
			 Heston Central Hounslow 3,800 
			 Heston East Hounslow 3,900 
			 Heston West Hounslow 4,000 
			 Hounslow Central Hounslow 4,300 
			 Hounslow Heath Hounslow 4,600 
			 Hounslow South Hounslow 3,900 
			 Hounslow West Hounslow 3,700 
			 Isleworth Hounslow 5,000 
			 Osterley and Spring Grove Hounslow 4,400 
			 Syon Hounslow 5,300 
			 Turnham Green Hounslow 2,800 
			 Cremorne Kensington and Chelsea 300 
			 Barnes Richmond upon Thames 3,100 
			 East Sheen Richmond upon Thames 3,900 
			 Heathfield Richmond upon Thames 3,900 
			 Kew Richmond upon Thames 5,100 
			 Mortlake and Barnes Common Richmond upon Thames 4,900 
			 North Richmond Richmond upon Thames 4,700 
			 South Richmond Richmond upon Thames 3,600 
			 St. Margarets and North Twickenham Richmond upon Thames 1,200 
			 Twickenham Riverside Richmond upon Thames 200 
			 West Twickenham Richmond upon Thames 3,300 
			 Whitton Richmond upon Thames 3,000 
			 East Putney Wandsworth 100 
			 Latchmere Wandsworth 4,000 
			 Queenstown Wandsworth 1,500 
			 Roehampton Wandsworth 900 
			 St. Mary's Park Wandsworth 5,400 
			 Thamesfield Wandsworth 4,700 
			 West Putney Wandsworth 2,600

Heathrow Airport: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with the Home Secretary on the efficiency of security procedures at Heathrow; and what discussions she has had with BAA on reducing security queuing times at Heathrow.

Jim Fitzpatrick: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Home Secretary, Home Office Ministers and companies in the aviation sector on a range of issues of mutual interest, including airport security. We recently published 'Improving the Air Passenger Experience' which explains what the end-to-end journey experience looks like for passengers using Heathrow and sets out what improvements are already under way.

Level Crossings: Frinton-on-Sea

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effects on safety of changing the protected manual railway gate at Frinton-on-Sea railway crossing to a gate controlled remotely and monitored by closed circuit television.

Tom Harris: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 November 2007,  Official Report, column 92W.

Lewes-Uckfield Railway Line

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work her Department is undertaking on the possibility of re-opening the Lewes to Uckfield rail link.

Tom Harris: The Department is not currently undertaking any work on the possibility of re-opening the Lewes to Uckfield railway. Local stakeholders are sponsoring a study into the re-opening which we expect to be completed in 2008.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she continues to support the European Commission target of reducing average emissions from new cars sold in the EU to 130g/km by 2012.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We want to see challenging but achievable new car CO2 targets. Ambitious mandatory targets are the best way to send strong signals to manufacturers to make major investments in new technology confidently. We therefore welcome the ambition shown by the Commission in suggesting a target of 130 g/km by 2012 but we also recognise, as the European Parliament recently has, that this would be extremely challenging given the length of lead times in the automotive sector.
	We also believe that continued improvement is best achieved by setting a framework for the longer term. We are pressing for a second ambitious EU target, of 100g/km by 2020, or no later than 2025.

Newcastle A1 Western Bypass

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government plans to widen the Newcastle A1 western bypass; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency is currently investigating options for widening the A1 Newcastle western bypass. This work will help to inform a decision in due course on whether to take forward a widening scheme. The Highways Agency is also holding discussions with the developers of Newcastle Great Park regarding a planning condition attached to this development which requires them to widen the section of the A1 between the A696 and North Brunton junctions once they have reached a particular level of development on the site.

Oxford-Cambridge Railway Line

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work her Department is undertaking on  (a) the possible re-opening of the York to Beverley rail link and  (b) in relation to the section of new track needed to create a Cambridge to Oxford rail link.

Tom Harris: The Department is not undertaking any work on the possible re-opening of the York to Beverley rail link or the Cambridge to Oxford rail link.
	East Riding of Yorkshire council has undertaken some work on the former and the East-West Rail Consortium has commissioned a detailed study into the Cambridge to Oxford rail link which should be completed shortly. The Department is in discussion with the Consortium.

Passports: Postal Services

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passports returned by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority have been delivered by  (a) standard mail and  (b) recorded delivery in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is not held in the form requested.

Railway Stations: Greater London

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether upgrading London Bridge station is included in the £150 million allocated by Delivering a Sustainable Railway White Paper to station improvements.

Tom Harris: The upgrading of London Bridge station is part of the £5.5 billion Thameslink programme which was fully authorised in July 2007.

Railway Stations: Reading

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the budget is for the upgrade of Reading station, as proposed in Delivering a Sustainable Railway, broken down by subheading; and when she expects work to  (a) start and  (b) finish on the upgrade.

Tom Harris: The amount currently allocated for improvements at Reading station is some £425 million. The majority of this is for construction-related work but upwards of £70 million may be required for design and the necessary planning approvals. Work has already started on the design aspects and final completion of the project is planned for spring 2015.

Railway Stations: Reading

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will place in the Library a copy of the contracts which have been let for work on the upgrade of Reading station, as set out in Delivering a Sustainable Railway.

Tom Harris: The work to enlarge Reading station is led by Network Rail, and contracts are a matter for them.
	However, the company is required to improve capacity and performance, within agreed timescales and resources.
	Network Rail can be contacted at:
	Network Rail
	40 Melton street
	London
	NW1 2EE

Railways: Consultants

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department has spent on  (a) consultants and  (b) other costs relating to the Inter-city Express programme.

Tom Harris: The Department has committed a total of £6.7 million since late 2005 relating to the Inter-City Express programme, all of which was on consultants.

Railways: Fares

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the recent increases in unregulated rail fares.

Tom Harris: In the absence of specific grounds for doing so, the Department has made no formal assessment of the recent increases in unregulated fares. However, we keep unregulated fares under review. The Department continues to listen to the representations of Passenger Focus and has invited them to take a greater role in commenting on the specification of future franchises.

Railways: Fares

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to increase consumer protection in relation to unregulated rail fares.

Tom Harris: holding answer 10 December 2007
	There are currently no plans to increase consumer protection in relation to unregulated rail fares.
	The setting of unregulated rail fares is a commercial decision for each train operating company. It is in their interests to provide an attractive range of fares and to encourage more passengers to use the railway.
	The Department continues to listen to the representations of Passenger Focus and has invited them to take a greater role in commenting on the specification of future franchises.

Railways: Franchises

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what premium was received by her Department from each rail franchise in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what subsidy was provided to each rail franchise in the last year for which figures are available.

Tom Harris: Details of subsidies and premiums received from, and paid by franchised train operating companies are available in 'National Rail Trends', which is published by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). Copies are available in the Library of the House and on the ORR website at:
	www.rail-reg.gov.uk

Railways: Land

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport of which disused rail lines her Department authorised the sale in each of the last 10 years; and which disused rail lines her Department is considering re-opening.

Tom Harris: The disposal of non operational property owned by BRB (Residuary) Ltd. (BRBR) is governed by guidance issued to the company on 26 July 2007 which I outlined in my statement to Parliament on that date. A listing of all properties, including disused railway lines that are either held by BRBR or have been sold by the company is available on their website at:
	http://www.brbr.gov.uk/property/property_listings
	The disposal of railway property owned by Network Rail is undertaken in accordance with the conditions of their network license. Compliance with these conditions are monitored and enforced by the Office of Rail Regulation.
	The Government priorities for rail as set out in the White Paper in July are improved reliability and safety and dealing with growth on the existing network. This does not envisage reopening lines in the period to March 2014. However, the Government would consider proposals for re-opening where these offer value for money and are fundable—it is for local promoters to make a case.

Railways: Public Holidays

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which railway lines services will not be running on Boxing Day.

Tom Harris: holding answer 10 December 2007
	 Full details of amended services over the Christmas period are available at
	http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_bulletins/Christmas_and_New_Year_Summary2007.html.

Railways: Southampton

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what schemes her Department is considering to improve rail links to the port of Southampton.

Tom Harris: The Department announced on 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 28WS, £44 million of funding through the productivity element of the Transport Innovation Fund towards rail gauge enhancement from the port of Southampton to the West Coast Main Line. The enhancement, when completed, will enable 9' 6" high containers to be conveyed on standard wagons on the route.

Railways: Standards

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will seek the views of passengers who travel in Desiro Class 450 Units, on mainline services between Portsmouth and London on passenger comfort.

Tom Harris: Stagecoach South Western Trains (SSWT) has carried out an ergonomic study on the Class 450s based on customer (specifically Portsmouth passengers) feedback. The findings of this report have been independently reviewed by Passenger Focus, the passenger representation body and have been made public by SSWT on their website.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the percentage of the Government's renewable transport fuels obligation which will come from  (a) imports and  (b) sustainable sources in 2010.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1233W.

Roads: Rural Areas

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made on the effect on the quality of life in rural communities of standards of roads and levels of road usage; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 10 December 2007
	Local highways in England are the responsibility of local highways authorities, and it is generally for them to determine standards of service and priorities. The Department's Guidance on Local Transport Plans (LTPs) for the period 2006 to 2011 indicated that in preparing their plans local authorities should consider how they could improve quality of life in their communities, including in rural areas. Authorities have been asked to assess progress in implementing their plans during 2008-09.

Roads: West Midlands

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) deaths and  (b) serious injuries were sustained by people aged (i) under 16, (ii) between 16 and 24, (iii) between 25 and 65 and (iv) over 65 years as a result of road traffic accidents in the West Midlands in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of casualties  (a) killed and  (b) seriously injured, who were (i) under 16, (ii) between 16 and 24, (iii) between 25 and 65 and (iv) over 65 years, resulting from reported personal injury road accidents in the West Midlands Government office region in each of the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of casualties 
			   Killed  Seriously injured 
			   Under 16  16-24  25-64  65+  Total( 1)  Under 16  16-24  25-64  65+  Total( 1) 
			 2002 20 72 158 56 306 414 782 1,375 259 2,879 
			 2003 14 86 170 51 321 333 744 1,288 241 2,666 
			 2004 14 80 137 54 286 348 709 1,241 217 2,565 
			 2005 11 67 157 44 281 347 657 1,102 213 2,393 
			 2006 16 89 148 51 304 272 645 1,073 215 2,278 
			 (1) Includes cases where age was not given.

Rolling Stock: Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much her Department has spent on the procurement of the 1,300 carriages to be added to the rail network;
	(2)  how much her Department has spent on consultants in relation to the procurement of the 1,300 extra carriages to be added to the rail network.

Tom Harris: The Department has been involved in some initial procurement work, and has spent £226,000 on consultants. This is to assess the business case and technical specifications, to ensure they represent best value to the taxpayer.

South West Trains: Rolling Stock

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 605W, on South West Trains: rolling stock, what assessment she has made of the difference in seated passenger comfort between the Desiro Class 450 units and the previous stock on the mainline journeys between Portsmouth and London; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Stagecoach South Western Trains (SSWT) have carried out an ergonomic study on the Class 450s compared with previous rolling stock. The findings of this report have been independently reviewed by Passenger Focus, the passenger representation body and have been made public by SSWT on their website.

Southeastern Railway Company: Franchises

Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures her Department followed in making the recent franchise agreement with Southeastern Railway Company; and what assessment was made of the likely effect on fares for travellers from Sidcup and Albany Park stations before agreeing the franchise.

Tom Harris: In competing and awarding rail franchises, the Department's procedures comply with relevant procurement legislation and Office of Government Commerce guidelines. Evaluations of bids include checking compliance with the Department's fares policy. Such an assessment would not have been made at the level of detail to determine the impact on travellers from Sidcup and Albany Park stations.
	The Southeastern franchise is limited to an average annual increase in regulated fares (including those for season tickets, full fare singles and returns) of RPI +3 per cent. for five years from 2007 reflecting the very significant investment in the franchise in recent years including more than £600 million in new rolling stock (some 408 new carriages) and £93 million in power supply, stations, depots and infrastructure.
	A new zonal fares structure introduced Oyster Pay-As-You-Go smart ticketing on Southeastern in 2007 and will enable the introduction across national rail in London from 2009. It simplifies the current complex system of individually priced station-to-station fares.
	In order to achieve this, and to maintain a coherent and balanced fare structure, some season ticket fares have been permitted to be increased above the otherwise maximum level.

Southeastern Railway Company: Public Participation

Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential benefits to travellers from Sidcup and Albany Park stations of the formation of a stakeholder advisory board by the Southeastern Railway Company as part of the franchise agreement conducted by her Department.

Tom Harris: Part of the successful bid to operate the Integrated Kent Franchise was the formation a company stakeholder advisory board.
	Our review of the bid concluded that this proposal offered sufficient passenger benefit that it was included as a requirement of the franchise agreement. This was completed by April 2007. No specific assessment was made of the likely effect on a stakeholder advisory board on travellers from Sidcup and Albany Park stations.

Transport Act 1981

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what files are held by her Department on Part Four of the Transport Act 1981; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Part IV, covering sections 19 to 31 of the Act was repealed by the Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988. The Road Traffic Act 1988, or other legislation as appropriate, will contain any successor provisions. The Department will hold files on the range of topics mentioned in Part IV. If the hon. Member has a particular interest he should write with specific details and, within reason, the Department will seek to provide an informative response.

Transport: Exhaust Emissions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to include two-wheeled transport in her Department's review of low-carbon technologies.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Budget 2007 announced that the Chancellor commissioned Professor Julia King to conduct a review into the fuels and technologies which over the next 25 years could de-carbonise transport. I refer the hon. Member to the terms of reference published by the review on 11 June 2007.

West Coast Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects new Pendolino carriages to be  (a) procured for and  (b) in operation on the West Coast Mainline.

Tom Harris: Negotiations continue with Network Rail, Virgin Trains and Alstom to determine the optimal way of increasing capacity on the West Coast Main Line. I hope to be in a position to make a further announcement in the new year.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bosnia: Peacekeeping Operations

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by the Government  (a) through the EU and  (b) on a bilateral basis in Bosnia-Herzegovina since the Dayton Peace Accords in November 1995.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 3 December 2007
	The inputted UK share of official development assistance (ODA) to Bosnia and Herzegovina through the EC, between 1995 and 2005, was £186 million. The total ODA through the EC was £1.06 billion. Other significant donors were Germany (approximately £220 million), France (approximately £174 million) and Italy (approximately £144 million).
	The UK bilateral ODA to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1995 to 2006 was £42 million.

Entry Clearances: Internet

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether his Department plans to make provision for visa applicants to apply online from British visa offices in those countries from which applications must now be made online;
	(2)  what accessibility criteria were considered when deciding to accept only online visa applications from nationals of certain countries;
	(3)  what the basis was of the decision to accept only online visa applications from nationals of certain countries.

Kim Howells: UKvisas has not decided to prioritise certain nationals over others as a matter of policy. The on-line application facility was initially made available in North America and Europe where internet penetration is high and the technical obstacles to implementation were more easily addressed. The gradual roll-out to other countries is linked to the roll-out of the biometric visa programme.
	Applications through Visa4UK are not mandatory. UKvisas will work with its commercial partners to facilitate take-up, depending on local needs.

Slovakia: Terrorism

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the recent arrest in Slovakia of persons seeking to sell radioactive material to make a dirty bomb; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: We have received reports that on 28 November two Hungarian nationals and one Ukrainian national were arrested trying to sell Uranium near the Slovak-Hungarian border. The matter is still under investigation.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Adult Education

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what discussions he has had with  (a) the Department of Health and  (b) Department for Communities and Local Government on the health and social effects on older people of continued participation in learning.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 26 November 2007
	We recognise the many wider benefits of participation in learning and its vital contribution to personal health and wellbeing, community involvement and quality of life as people age. Learning helps older people to fulfil themselves as active citizens and as members of their families and communities. People who keep mentally and physically active not only live longer but live happier and more fulfilled lives and pursuing learning can play a real part in this. We remain committed to ensuring the continuing availability of a wide range of suitable learning opportunities in every area for adult learners, including older people, and have safeguarded funding for learning for personal and community development at £210 million through to 2010-11.
	We continue to work closely with ministerial colleagues in the context of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Ageing Policy (DA(AP)), to take forward the Government's opportunity age strategy, to ensure that longer life is healthy and fulfilling and that older people can participate fully in society. Colleagues at the Department for Work and Pensions lead on Opportunity Age and we are working with them to deliver the opportunities for older people proposed in World Class Skills and in the Green Paper: In Work, Better Off, both published in July this year.
	My officials are also working closely with their counterparts in Department of Health and Department for Communities and Local Government on the Opportunity Age Strategy Partnership Group, as well as its Sub-Group on Education and Training, and on the Task Group we have established to steer our reforms in Personal and Community Development Learning.
	I know that there are concerns about the impact of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 on fee concessions for older learners and I must make clear that the regulations do not bar providers from offering fee discounts for learners aged 65 and over. They allow for such positive action provided that it can be objectively justified. I refer my hon. Friend to my written statement on 16 May 2007,  Official Report, column 35WS.

Apprentices: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many apprenticeships were  (a) started and  (b) completed in the London borough of Bexley in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people failed to complete apprenticeships in the London borough of Bexley in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: Figures for those participating in apprenticeships can be derived from the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) Individualised Learner Record (ILR). The table shows the number of apprenticeship starts, achievements and success rates (the proportion of those who complete apprenticeships in each year and achieve the full apprenticeship framework) from August-July in each year in East London local LSC area.
	(Achievements and success rates for 2002/03 and figures at local authority level are not readily available.) The number of learners who started an apprenticeship and the number of achievements and success rates in each year are mutually exclusive.
	
		
			   Starts (thousand)  Achievements (thousand)  Success rates ( percentage ) 
			   Advanced apprenticeships( 1)  Apprenticeships( 1)  Advanced apprenticeships( 1)  Apprenticeships( 1)  Advanced apprenticeships( 1)  Apprenticeships( 1) 
			 2002/03 0.6 1.5 — — — — 
			 2003/04 0.7 2.1 0.2 0.3 30.0 21.6 
			 2004/05 0.7 2.2 0.1 0.5 23.8 28.3 
			 2005/06 0.6 1.9 0.3 1.0 46.6 45.4 
			 2006/07 0.5 1.6 0.3 1.1 60.0 59.7 
			 (1) Figures for 2002/03 and 2003/04 are for Advanced Modern Apprenticeships and Foundation Modern Apprenticeships.  Source:  LSC's ILR

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the office costs for his Department's special advisers for 2007-08 are expected to be, including costs of support staff; and how many full-time equivalent civil servants work in support of such special advisers.

David Lammy: Two civil servants support the Secretary of State's special advisers. Both provide support of a non-political nature in accordance with the code of conduct for special advisers.
	Individual civil servants' salary details are not disclosed in order to protect the privacy of the individual concerned.

Engineering: Education

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) foundation degrees and  (b) apprenticeships were offered in subjects related to (i) construction and (ii) engineering by each institution in London in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is shown in the following tables. For  (a), the latest available information for Foundation Degree provision is shown in Table 1. Figures are not available for the years prior to 2004/05. The list for 2007-08 is provisional since the exercise of collating courses from all institutions is not yet completed. There are also some courses which are currently in development and these are listed separately.
	For  (b) the figures for those participating in apprenticeships can be derived from the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) Individualised Learner Record (ILR). Table 2 shows the number of apprenticeship starts in subjects related to construction and engineering from August-July in each year in the Greater London Region. Figures are shown for the last four years. Figures at institution level and figures for 2002/03 by Region are not readily available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Construction and Engineering Foundation degrees in London 
			  Course title  Validating institution  Delivering institution 
			  2004-05   
			 Construction and Surveying University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Construction Management University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Aeronautical Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aircraft Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aircraft Engineering Studies Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Automotive Engineering (Diesel Technology) Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aviation Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			
			  2005-06   
			 Architectural Technology University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Construction and Surveying University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Construction Management University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Building Services Engineering in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Kingston University College of North West London 
			 Aeronautical Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aircraft Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aircraft Engineering Studies Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Automotive Engineering (Diesel Technology) Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aviation Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Construction Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Building Services Engineering University of Westminster College of North West London 
			
			  2006-07   
			 Architectural Technology University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Construction and Surveying University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Construction Management University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Construction Management Thames Valley University Thames Valley University 
			 Aeronautical Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aircraft Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aircraft Engineering Studies Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Automotive Engineering (Diesel Technology) Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aviation Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Construction Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			
			  2007-08 (provisional list)   
			 Architectural Technology University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Construction and Surveying (Building Surveying Option) University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Construction and Surveying (Quantity Surveying Option) University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Construction Management University of Westminster College of North West London 
			 Construction Management Thames Valley University Thames Valley University 
			 Aeronautical Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aircraft Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aircraft Engineering Studies Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Automotive Engineering (Diesel Technology) Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Aviation Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			 Construction Engineering Kingston University Kingston University 
			
			  Additional provision - courses in development 2007-08 (provisional list)   
			 Construction (Building Crafts & Building Services) Kingston University Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College 
			 Construction (Conservation Technology & Management) Kingston University Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College 
			 Architectural Technology Thames Valley University Thames Valley University 
			 Building Services Thames Valley University Thames Valley University 
			 Building Services Engineering (options in Electrical, Plumbing & HVAC) London South Bank University College of North West London 
			 Marine Engineering University of Greenwich University of Greenwich 
			  Notes: The lists are extracts from the Foundation Degree Forward (fdf) database of Foundation degrees. Information held in this database is supplied directly to fdf by universities and colleges. Only courses that were/are actually running (students enrolled) are included in the lists. Courses offered in all modes of study are included.  Source: Foundation Degree Forward (FDF) 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Apprenticeship starts in subjects related to construction and engineering 
			   Advanced Apprenticeship  Apprenticeship 
			  2003/04( 1)   
			 Electrotechnical 154 145 
			 Engineering 200 45 
			 Engineering Construction 31 0 
			 Construction 50 258 
			 Plumbing 77 247 
			 Aviation 0 8 
			 Electricity Industry 3 0 
			 Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration 61 71 
			 Motor Industry 186 258 
			 Gas Industry 1 0 
			 Building Services Engineers 4 0 
			 Electrical and Electronic Servicing 37 4 
			  2004/05   
			 Electrotechnical 94 150 
			 Engineering 196 120 
			 Engineering Construction 15 0 
			 Metals Industry 0 1 
			 Construction 45 366 
			 Plumbing 42 267 
			 Aviation 0 6 
			 Transport Engineering and Maintenance 0 6 
			 Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration 61 77 
			 Automotive Industry 168 286 
			 Gas Industry 0 18 
			 Industrial Applications 0 13 
			 Electrical and Electronic Servicing 37 6 
			
			  2005/06   
			 Electrotechnical 186 133 
			 Engineering 156 83 
			 Engineering Construction 13 0 
			 Construction 46 407 
			 Plumbing 68 207 
			 Aviation 0 5 
			 Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration 96 106 
			 Automotive Industry 51 23 
			 Gas Industry 7 24 
			 Rail Transport Engineering 68 0 
			 Electrical and Electronic Servicing 22 0 
			 Vehicle Fitting 0 36 
			 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair 69 187 
			 Vehicle Body and Paint Operations 2 19 
			 Vehicle Parts Operations 0 12 
			 Engineering Technology 2 0 
			
			  2006/07   
			 Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Petro-Chemical Manufacturing and Refining Industries 1 0 
			 Electrotechnical 270 3 
			 Engineering 116 116 
			 Engineering Construction 16 0 
			 Construction 63 390 
			 Plumbing 108 188 
			 Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration 44 123 
			 Automotive Industry 15 14 
			 Gas Industry 13 7 
			 Rail Transport Engineering 27 2 
			 Industrial Applications 0 3 
			 Electrical and Electronic Servicing 3 0 
			 Vehicle Fitting 0 24 
			 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair 95 296 
			 Vehicle Body and Paint Operations 12 25 
			 Vehicle Parts Operations 9 10 
			 (1) Figures for 2003/04 are for Advanced Modern Apprenticeships and Foundation Modern Apprenticeships.  Source:  LSC's ILR

Higher Education: Admissions

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many undergraduates entered UK universities by socio-economic grouping in each year between 1996 and 2007.

Bill Rammell: The available information is shown in the table. The figures show proportions of UK-domiciled young (aged under 21) entrants to full-time first degree courses at higher education institutions in the UK, who were from lower social classes over the period 1997-98 to 2001-02, and the proportions from lower socio-economic classes over the period 2002-03 to 2005-06. The social classification in the student data changed in the 2002-03 academic year, and the two classifications are not comparable.
	This information is taken from the annual Performance Indicators in Higher Education, which are currently published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
	
		
			  UK-domiciled young (under 21) full-time first degree entrants to higher education institutions in the UK 
			  Academic year  Lower social classes (IIIM , IV, V)  Lower socio-economic groups (4, 5, 6, 7) 
			 1997-98 24.9 n/a 
			 1998-99 25.1 n/a 
			 1999-2000 25.3 n/a 
			 2000-01 25.4 n/a 
			 2001-02 25.8 n/a 
			 2002-03 n/a 28.4 
			 2003-04 n/a 28.6 
			 2004-05 n/a 28.2 
			 2005-06 n/a 29.3 
			 n/a = not available  Note: The socio-economic group classification was introduced in 2002-03 to replace the social class groupings. The two classifications are not directly comparable  Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by HEFCE/HESA 
		
	
	Figures are not available for earlier years. Figures for 2006-07 will become available in 2008.
	The proportion of students from low social classes/low socio-economic classes has been calculated using information on students whose social class/socio-economic class background is known. A significant proportion of students' social backgrounds are unknown and so exact numbers cannot be determined.

Postgraduate Medical Deaneries

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people are employed in each of the postgraduate medical deaneries; what the payroll costs are for each deanery in 2007-08; and what the size is of the budget each deanery administers in 2007-08.

Ann Keen: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on the number of staff employed in each postgraduate medical deanery is not held centrally. It is therefore not possible to provide payroll cost information in respect of these staff.
	Medical and dental education levy (MADEL) funding is not allocated directly to the postgraduate medical deaneries. It is included in the multi professional education and training (MPET) budget allocated to strategic health authorities (SHAs). It is up to each SHA to decide how much of the MPET allocation it will spend on postgraduate medical and dental education. The amount of MADEL funding included in each SHAs MPET allocation in 2007-08, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Medical and dental education levy budget 2007-08 
			  S trategic  h ealth  a uthority  £000 
			 East Midlands 114,992 
			 East of England 141,546 
			 London 351,911 
			 North East 99,551 
			 North West 201,582 
			 South Central 116,055 
			 South East Coast 107,141 
			 South West 145,281 
			 West Midlands 152,452 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 169,781 
			 Total 1,600,292

Reviews

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what  (a) reviews,  (b) consultations and  (c) taskforces his Department is (i) responsible for and (ii) scheduled to undertake; on what date each (A) started and (B) is expected to be completed; and what the purpose is of each.

David Lammy: External reviews, consultations and taskforces being undertaken or scheduled to be undertaken by DIUS are as follows:
	
		
			  Name  Type  Start date  Completion date  Purpose 
			 Review of variable fees for full-time undergraduates Review To be determined To be determined Independent review of the first three years of the new system of variable fees, which started in the academic year 2006/07 
			 Review of operation of new foundation degree awarding powers for further education colleges Review May 2013 To be determined To review the operation of the new foundation degree awarding powers for further education colleges. This review is required under the Education and Training Act 2007 
			 Higher Education Regulatory Review Group (HERRG) Taskforce 2004 Ongoing To serve as a "gatekeeper" advising on the potential burden of policies and proposals; and generally to advise the Government on better regulation of higher education 
			 Compacts project (with HEFCE) Review November 2007 March 2008 To establish the range and nature of HE compact schemes 
			 Schwartz Review Project (through SPA) Review November 2007 July 2008 To examine the extent to which the Schwartz recommendations have been implemented; changes that have occurred in response to the Schwartz recommendations; and how the implementation of the recommendations has supported the five principles of fair admissions 
			 New civil space strategy Review Summer 2006, followed by a public consultation January to May 2007. Publication of the new strategy is planned for early 2008 The British National Space Centre is developing a new civil space strategy for the UK to replace the current "UK space strategy 2003 to 2006 and beyond: space for science, enterprise and environment". 
			 Licensing re use of outer space Review 2005 2005 Consultation 2008 The provisions of Outer Space Act provide the principal means of UK compliance with international treaties on the use of outer space. The Government held a review of their implementation in 2005 with a view to modernising the licensing process required by the Act. As a result of the review, we have improved guidance to licence applicants and pre-licensing assessments. We expect to conclude this process with a public consultation on further proposals to revise the licensing process in 2008. 
			 Science Review of the Home Office and ministry of Justice Review January 2007 December 2007 The Government Office for Science runs a rolling programme of "Science Reviews" looking at how departments of state identify their science requirements, use science and scientific advice; and commission, manage and quality-assure science.(1) 
			 Science Review of the Department of Health Review July 2008 May 2008 (1)— 
			 Review of Weights & Measures legislation Review 2 November 2007 2008 It is likely that a consultation on proposals for legislative changes will follow the review some time in 2009. 
			 Possible changes to existing secondary legislation on measuring instruments. Consultation 16 November 2007 8 February 2008. Proposals identified as a result of this review will be subject to further consultation as part of the legislative change process. 
			 Improvement in the Further Education Sector Consultation 4 December 2007 25 January 2008 A consultative prospectus for a new sector-owned organisation 
			 Changes to the regime governing specified quantities. Consultation The consultation is anticipated during 2008, though no date has been set. Legislation is necessary to implement Directive 2007/45/EC on specified quantities for pre-packages and may also provide an opportunity make reforms to the regime for non pre-packaged products which would simplify the legislation and remove any unnecessary burdens on business. (We expect to consult on draft legislation by October 2008 so that new legislation can be in place by April 2009.) 
			 IPO Fastrack consultation Consultation — 14 December 2007 The Gowers Report on IP recommendation that the UK Intellectual Property Office provide a speedier process for granting patents and trade marks, subject to the payment of a higher fee. This consultation will close on 14 December 2007. 
			 Research Exemption Consultation January 2008 — This process will commence with a discussion paper to identify key issues for inclusion in the consultation. It responds to a recommendation made by Gowers which calls for greater clarity about what can or cannot be done by researchers using patented processes and products. 
			 Copyright Consultation Taking place in 2008. No dates yet set( 2) Changes to copyright exceptions taking forward the recommendations of the Gowers Review. 
			 Hours of Business Consultation (2)— This consultation concerns the dates/days of the week and times of the day during which the UK-IPO is able to accept date-sensitive transactions such as filing of applications. 
			 Patent Office Fees Consultation (2)— This was a recommendation of Gowers, with the purpose of realigning UK Patent Office administrative fees to cover costs more closely on Patent Office operations (e.g. granting patents). 
			 Copyright issues Consultation (2)— This may be needed to reframe some aspects of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act in relation to copyright exceptions. 
			 Train to Gain Review July 2007 November 2007 To review the effectiveness and operation of Train to Gain to ensure we can expand the service to meet the needs of all employers in all sectors. 
			 Review of Investors in People — 23 October 2007 End of December 2007 Review the remit of Investors in People to consider how IiP UK and its products, including the standard itself, should be reshaped to support delivery of the UK world class skills ambition 
			 Consultation on changes to the machinery of post-16 skills delivery, consequential to the 2007 MoG changes Consultation Feb 2008 May 2008 Joint with DCSF. To consult on proposals to (i) effect the transfer of strategic leadership for 16-19 education and skills to local authorities and (ii) reform the post-19 skills landscape. 
			 Consultation on informal adult education Consultation January 2008 March 2008 To consult sector partners, learners and potential learners on the planning and delivery of informal adult education for the 21st century 
			 Consultation on focusing ESOL on community cohesion Consultation To be determined To be determined Explore how to prioritise the most excluded in the funding and delivery of ESOL training. 
			 Mortgage Style Student Loans Review Spring 2005 Summer 2006 To establish new strategies for overseeing Mortgage Style Loans to optimise cost effectiveness on both the Government's retained and sold loan portfolios. 
			 Apprenticeships Review Autumn 2007 Early 2008 To review the Government's apprenticeships programme and identify improvements to assist in the delivery of policy aims, including the achievement of published targets. 
			 Regulation of qualifications Consultation December 2007 Spring 2008 To consult on the Government's plans to establish a new independent regulator for qualifications. Joint with DCSF,

Students: Loans

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the debt owed to the Student Loans Company by residents of each London borough.

Bill Rammell: The available data are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of borrowers with publicly- owned student loans, March 2007 a mount of loan balance( 1)  by loan type, by London borough( 2) 
			  Amount of loan balance (£000) 
			  London borough  Borrowers  Mortgage-style loans  Income-contingent loans  All loans 
			 Barking and Dagenham 5,300  40,405 42,356 
			 Barnet 20,900 8,641 149,495 158,135 
			 Bexley 8,700 2,781 64,990 67,771 
			 Brent 19,100 9,241 140,108 149,349 
			 Bromley 14,800 4,804 105,839 110,643 
			 Camden 9,600 5,896 67,073 72,969 
			 Croydon 18,500 6,956 138,769 145,725 
			 Ealing 18,800 7,131 140,039 147,170 
			 Enfield 16,100 6,389 117,949 124,339 
			 Greenwich 10,500 5,026 80,607 85,633 
			 Hackney 12,000 8,298 83,663 91,961 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 7,100 4,235 49,338 53,573 
			 Haringey 14,400 8,655 98,990 107,645 
			 Harrow 16,500 5,236 127,849 133,085 
			 Havering 7,700 2,159 56,214 58,373 
			 Hillingdon 11,300 3,302 84,399 87,700 
			 Hounslow 11,500 4,052 79,640 83,692 
			 Islington 9,700 6,176 68,004 74,180 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,500 3,559 37,397 40,956 
			 Kingston upon Thames 8,600 3,185 61,907 65,092 
			 Lambeth 14,900 9,456 109,837 119,293 
			 Lewisham 14,000 7,642 101,971 109,613 
			 Merton 9,500 4,432 69,904 74,336 
			 Newham 15,700 7,871 116,974 124,845 
			 Redbridge 16,000 5,559 115,802 121,361 
			 Richmond upon Thames 10,000 3,888 69,272 73,160 
			 Southwark 14,100 9,598 106,991 116,588 
			 Sutton 8,400 2,627 61,991 64,618 
			 Tower Hamlets 8,800 3,268 62,502 65,770 
			 Waltham Forest 12,400 6,297 88,372 94,669 
			 Wandsworth 12,500 6,889 85,222 92,111 
			 Westminster 6,500 3,880 43,066 46,946 
			 Total 389,500 179,078 2,824,579 3,003,657 
			 (1) Includes loans not yet due for repayment.  (2) Provisional data.   Source: Student Loans Company

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies: Free School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of children on free school meals in each academy; and what percentage were on free school meals in the predecessor schools in the two years before academy status was granted.

Jim Knight: The latest available information on pupils known to be eligible for free school meals in academies relates to January 2007 and is shown in the following table.
	Information on the percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals in the predecessor schools in the two years before academy status was granted can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Academies:  number and percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals , as at January 2007 
			Pupil Achievement and Attainment Tables( 1) 
			  LA  n ame  School  n ame  Number of pupils  Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
			 Barnet London Academy 1,004 432 43 
			 Barnsley The Barnsley Academy 424 159 37.5 
			 Bexley The Business Academy Bexley 1,385 543 39.2 
			 Bradford Dixons City Academy 823 59 7.2 
			 Brent Capital City Academy 897 313 34.9 
			 City of Bristol The City Academy Bristol 959 381 39.7 
			 Derby Landau Forte College 784 88 11.2 
			 Doncaster Trinity Academy 1,074 176 16.4 
			 Ealing West London Academy 1,081 439 40.6 
			 Greenwich St. Pauls Academy 700 179 25.6 
			 Hackney Mossbourne Community Academy 613 249 40.6 
			 Hackney The Petchey Academy 180 86 47.8 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Burlington Danes Academy 807 166 20.6 
			 Haringey Greig City Academy 672 251 37.4 
			 Hillingdon Stockley Academy 672 274 40.8 
			 Hillingdon The Harefield Academy 507 88 17.4 
			 Kent The Marlowe Academy 593 187 31.5 
			 Lambeth Lambeth Academy 532 229 43 
			 Leeds David Young Community Academy 881 371 42.1 
			 Lewisham Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College 1,035 181 17.5 
			 Lewisham Haberdashers' Aske's Knights Academy 728 321 44.1 
			 Liverpool The Academy of St. Francis of Assisi 661 312 47.2 
			 Liverpool North Liverpool Academy 989 406 41.1 
			 Manchester Manchester Academy 779 399 51.2 
			 Merton Harris Academy Merton 651 195 30 
			 Merton St. Marks Church of England Academy 717 194 27.1 
			 Middlesbrough Unity City Academy 1,035 466 45 
			 Middlesbrough The King's Academy 977 257 26.3 
			 Middlesbrough Macmillan Academy 1,135 293 25.8 
			 Northamptonshire Northampton Academy 1,187 193 16.3 
			 Nottingham Djanogly City Academy Nottingham 1,364 446 32.7 
			 Reading John Madejski Academy 494 150 30.4 
			 Salford Salford City Academy 583 105 18 
			 Sandwell Sandwell Academy 180 26 14.4 
			 Sheffield Sheffield Park Academy 1,060 385 36.3 
			 Sheffield Sheffield Springs Academy 981 342 34.9 
			 Solihull Grace Academy 1,079 319 29.6 
			 Southwark City of London Academy (Southwark) 747 273 36.5 
			 Southwark The Academy at Peckham 1,043 530 50.8 
			 Southwark Harris Academy Bermondsey 878 532 60.6 
			 Southwark Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich 769 312 40.6 
			 Thurrock The Gateway Academy 817 296 36.2 
			 Walsall Walsall Academy 685 82 12 
			 Waltham Forest Walthamstow Academy 675 214 31.7 
			 Westminster Paddington Academy 783 428 54.7 
			 Westminster Westminster Academy 747 304 40.7 
			 (1) Includes pupils with sole and dual registration who are full-time and aged 0 to 15 (inclusive) and those who are part-time and aged five to 15 (inclusive).  Source:  School Census.

Academies: Sponsorship

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  who the  (a) sponsors and  (b) co-sponsors are of academies approved since June 2007; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list for each academy approved since 1st June 2007 the  (a) lead sponsor and  (b) co-sponsors; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families has approved Funding Agreements for 29 academies between 1 June 2007 and 28 November 2007. The names of the sponsors and co-sponsors for these academies are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Academy  Sponsor  Co-sponsor 
			 Eastbourne Church of England Academy Diocese of Durham and David and Anne Crossland — 
			 Bristol Brunel Academy John Cabbot Academy Trust — 
			 Harris City Academy, Crystal Palace CTC Trust/Harris Federation of South London Schools Trust — 
			 St. Michael and All Angels CofE Southwark Diocesan Board of Education TocH 
			 St. Anne's Academy The Manchester Diocese and David and Anne Crossland — 
			 Bacon's, A Church of England Sponsored Academy CTC Trust, Southwark Diocesan Board of Education and the Phillip and Pauline Harris Charitable Trust — 
			 Shireland Collegiate Academy Ormiston Trust and Shireland Learning — 
			 George Salter Collegiate Academy Ormiston Trust and Shireland Learning — 
			 Cornwallis Academy Cornwallis Online Learning Kent CC 
			 Marsh Academy Microsoft and Tonbridge School Kent CC 
			 Swindon Academy ULT — 
			 North Oxfordshire Academy ULT — 
			 Havelock Academy David Ross — 
			 New Line Learning Academy Cornwallis Online Learning Kent CC 
			 John Cabot Academy John Cabot CTC Trust — 
			 Walworth Academy ARK — 
			 Evelyn Grace Academy ARK — 
			 The Samworth Church Academy David Samworth and Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham — 
			 New Charter Academy New Charter Housing Trust — 
			 Q3 Academy Grace Trust — 
			 The Globe Academy ARK — 
			 Grace Academy Bob Edmiston — 
			 Pennywell/Quarry View Academy Gentoo Group Sunderland CC 
			 Nottingham Bulwell Academy Edge Foundation — 
			 Red House Academy Leighton Group Sunderland CC 
			 Nottingham University Samworth Academy University of Nottingham and David Samworth — 
			 Milton Keynes Edge Foundation — 
			 Castle View Academy Northumbrian Water Sunderland CC 
			 Brooke Weston Academy Brooke Weston CTC Trust —

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what safeguards he plans to put in place to prevent unauthorised access to data held on ContactPoint.

Kevin Brennan: Security is, and always has been, of paramount importance to the ContactPoint project and we are mindful that the Data Protection Act 1988 requires that the level of technical and organisational security must be appropriate.
	In relation to practitioner access to ContactPoint, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 3 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 926-27W.
	In relation to the storage and use of data, on Tuesday 20 November my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, asked the Department's Permanent Secretary to conduct an immediate assessment of how personal data are stored and protected in the Department. The Permanent Secretary reported back within 24 hours to confirm the Department is confident that we have very robust procedures in place. In light of the security breach at the HMRC, we are continuing to check our procedures to ensure standards are as high as they can be. On Wednesday 21 November, the Prime Minister confirmed this approach when he asked all Departments to check their procedures for the storage and use of data. Given the obvious importance of ensuring that ContactPoint has extremely robust security measures in place, on Tuesday 20 November, the Secretary of State also asked for an independent assessment of ContactPoint's security procedures. This will be conducted by Deloitte.
	In line with best practice, ContactPoint will be routinely backed up. This will be done only by specifically identified system operators within Capgemini, with whom we have contracted for the build and initial host of ContactPoint. Two Capgemini staff will have to be present when back-ups take place. This dual control is considered best practice. The backup tapes will be encrypted, protected with a strong (complex) password and stored in a fire-proof safe in a secure room. The limited number of Capgemini staff who do have access to these data must have enhanced CRB clearance.
	There is no facility that would allow users to copy personal identifiable information to a file, other than when files need to be backed up as indicated. The vast majority of users will only be able to view child data on the screen — they will not be able to extract files in a personally identifiable form. A very limited number of people will be able to extract identifiable data, one record at a time, from ContactPoint in order to meet legal requirements as set out in The Children Act 2004 Information Database (England) Regulations 2007, including responding to Subject Access Requests. There is a clear right under the Data Protection Act 1998 for children and young people (or their parents or carers when acting appropriately on their behalf) to have access to their information on ContactPoint and for it to be corrected if it is found to be inaccurate.
	A very limited number of people in local authorities and the national ContactPoint team will be able to run reports to, for example, produce aggregated data or support data quality checks. These reports will be in an anonymised form and will not contain personally identifiable data. The only exception to this is a report produced to support local authorities in their duty to identify children who are missing education. The information provided in this report is restricted by regulations and can only contain child name, address, date of birth, unique identifying number, parent/carer contact details and the details of start and end dates for educational institutions attended by the child or young person.

Delivery Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which companies are under contract to his Department to provide mail services.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Children, Schools and Families use the following postal companies to handle mail dispatched from its head office buildings: Royal Mail; Parcel Force; Copley Couriers; Central Dispatch Couriers.

Departmental Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on how many occasions in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies confidential data have been downloaded on to compact discs (i) without and (ii) with encryption in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; how many of those discs have been posted without using recorded or registered delivery; what procedures his Department has in place for the (A) transport, (B) exchange and (C) delivery of confidential or sensitive data; what records are kept of information held by his Department being sent outside the Department; what changes have been made to his Department's rules and procedures on data protection in the last two years; on how many occasions his Department's procedures and rules on data protection have been breached in the last five years; what those breaches were; what procedures his Department has in place on downloading confidential data on to computer discs before their transfer; what technical protections there are in his Department's computer systems to prevent access to information held on those systems which is not in accordance with departmental procedures; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each of his Department's rules and procedures on the protection of confidential data on individuals, businesses and other organisations.

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department's information technology and data management systems are BS7799 compliant.

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on how many occasions the Information Commissioner was contacted by his Department to report breaches of data protection security in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Members to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Departmental Land

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what land surplus to his Department's requirements it is  (a) selling,  (b) leasing and  (c) planning to (i) sell and (ii) lease; and what the size and name of each relevant site is.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Children, Schools and Families has no land falling in these categories.

Departmental Standards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects to publish his Department's autumn performance report.

Kevin Brennan: The Department published its autumn performance report on Friday 7 December 2007.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of extending the education maintenance allowance to cover all provision approved by local authorities;
	(2)  how many young persons are on courses approved by local authorities which are not eligible for funding under the education maintenance allowance.

Jim Knight: Since 5 November 2007 the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) have been trialling a new definition of valid provision for the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). Local authority funded learning programmes that meet the criteria being trialled will become eligible for EMA during the trial period which will be up to 18 months.
	The LSC estimate that around 2,000 extra learners could become eligible for EMA during the trial period at a cost of about £2 million a year. We do not know how many of those extra learners will be undertaking local authority approved courses. The LSC will be closely monitoring take up during the trial period and will undertake an evaluation of impact and cost to inform future policy decisions.
	During the trials a young person will be able to apply for EMA provided:
	the programme of study is not less than twelve guided learning hours a week for a minimum of 10 weeks
	the provision is inspected by a public body that assures quality,
	and is either:
	(i) funded or co-financed by the Learning and Skills Council in England;
	or
	(ii) leads to a qualification that is accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority pursuant to section 24 of the Education Act 1997 (b);
	or
	leads to a qualification that is approved by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 98 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 (c).

Education Maintenance Allowance: Young Offenders

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will estimate the additional cost of allowing all children detained in young offenders' institutions the full rate of education maintenance allowance.

Jim Knight: Young people in custody are not eligible to receive education maintenance allowance. However, they can apply while they are in custody and their applications will be assessed in the same manner as those from children in local authority care, or foster care. This ensures that custodial staff can help young offenders apply as part of the resettlement process. EMA is only payable after the young person has been released from custody and begins a valid course with an approved provider.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of persistent truants gained  (a) fewer than five A* to C grades,  (b) fewer than five A* to G grades and  (c) no GCSEs in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of pupils who were given a fixed period exclusion gained  (a) fewer than five A* to C grades,  (b) fewer than five A* to G grades and  (c) no GCSEs in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of pupils permanently excluded gained  (a) fewer than five A* to G grades,  (b) fewer than five A* to C grades and  (c) no GCSEs in the latest period for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Geronimo Communications

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what work was undertaken by Geronimo Communications in financial years  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 to date for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 28 November 2007
	Geronimo has provided media relations support within departmental information campaigns (often concentrating on local and regional media and specialist media outlets). While in some campaigns their contribution has worked alongside advertising, in many others it is the main plank of the campaign strategy.
	The campaigns in which Geronimo has worked are as follows:
	 2006-07
	Aim Higher
	Attendance
	London Challenge
	City Academies
	 2007-08
	Aim Higher
	Children's Plan Consultation
	Early Years Careers
	Child Care and Early Learning
	Extended Schools
	London Challenge and City Challenge
	Attendance
	City Academies
	Student Finance Fulfilment
	Diplomas
	The campaigns for 2007-08 include ones for the newly created Department for Universities, Innovation and Skills, where these relate to areas formerly the responsibility of the Department for Education and Skills.

Head Teachers: Qualifications

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many candidates successfully completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship in each academic year since 2003-04; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The number of candidates who successfully completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship in each academic year since 2003/04 is as follows. The academic year 2007/08 is ongoing so the figure given is not complete.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003/04 3,524 
			 2004/05 4,101 
			 2005/06 4,400 
			 2006/07 4,354 
			 2007/08 109

Pupil Exclusions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many primary school pupils received a  (a) fixed period exclusion and  (b) permanent exclusion in the last 12 months, broken down by (i) reason for exclusion and (ii) local authority;
	(2)  how many  (a) permanent exclusions and  (b) fixed term exclusions there were in primary schools in each of the last three years, broken down by (i) age of the child and (ii) reason for exclusion.

Jim Knight: Local authority level tables showing the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions by reason for 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 have been placed in the Library. The latest year for which data are available for primary schools is 2004/05. The tables include national and regional totals.
	The readily available information on exclusions by age relates to pupils excluded from primary, secondary and special schools and is provided in the table:
	
		
			  Maintained primary, secondary and special schools( 1,2) : Number of permanent and fixed period exclusions by age England, 2003/04 (estimates)( 3)  and 2004/05 (estimates)( 3) 
			   2003/04 (estimates)  2004/05 (estimates) 
			   Permanent exclusions  Fixed period exclusions  Permanent exclusions  Fixed period exclusions 
			  Number of exclusions 
			  Age( 4) : 
			 4 and under 20 1,180 60 960 
			 5 50 2,030 40 2,150 
			 6 90 2,950 60 3,080 
			 7 160 4,650 110 5,270 
			 8 230 7,220 190 7,490 
			 9 370 10,700 300 11,430 
			 10 410 15,070 420 15,980 
			 11 680 36,420 650 40,960 
			 12 1,540 60,240 1,590 68,020 
			 13 2,470 76,720 2,410 88,610 
			 14 2,750 78,330 2,580 91,250 
			 15 1,070 47,640 980 52,740 
			 16 30 920 40 990 
			 17 20 360 10 370 
			 18 * 60 * 40 
			 19 and over * 30 0 40 
			 Total(5) 9,830 344,510 9,440 389,560 
			  
			  Percentage of school population( 6) 
			  Age( 4) : 
			 4 and under 0.00 0.14 0.01 0.12 
			 5 0.01 0.36 0.01 0.38 
			 6 0.02 0.50 0.01 0.54 
			 7 0.03 0.81 0.02 0.90 
			 8 0.04 1.24 0.03 1.31 
			 9 0.06 1.80 0.05 1.97 
			 10 0.07 2.53 0.07 2.69 
			 11 0.11 6.03 0.11 7.04 
			 12 0.25 9.89 0.26 11.26 
			 13 0.41 12.74 0.40 14.59 
			 14 0.46 13.26 0.43 15.22 
			 15 0.18 8.11 0.17 9.09 
			 16 0.01 0.49 0.02 0.51 
			 17 0.01 0.25 0.01 0.25 
			 18 * 0.40 * 0.31 
			 19 and over * 3.49 0.00 3.21 
			 Total(5) 0.13 4.49 0.12 5.12 
			 * = Less than 5, or a rate based on less than 5. (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) For permanent exclusions includes both maintained and non-maintained special schools. For fixed period exclusions excludes non-maintained special schools. (3) Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil-level data. (4) Age as at 31 August 2003 and as at 31 August 2004. (5) There were 17 permanent exclusions for which gender is unclassified as well as 140 fixed period exclusions of boys and 41 fixed period exclusions of girls for whom age was not known—these were included in the 'total' column only. (6) The number of exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils of each age in primary, secondary and special schools (excluding dually registered pupils in special schools) in January each year.  Note: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Schools Census and Termly Exclusions Survey

Pupils: Assessments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of schools in  (a) England and  (b) the Isle of Wight Council area permit pupils to take Key Stage 3 tests in (i) year eight and (ii) years eight and nine.

Jim Knight: holding answer 19 November 2007
	Information is not available in the format requested. Head teachers of maintained schools are required to enter pupils for Key Stage 3 tests in the school year in which they complete the relevant National Curriculum programmes of study. Each pupil may take each test only once. Most such pupils are in year nine but others take the Key Stage 3 tests in an earlier or later year, for example in year eight where their school delivers a two-year Key Stage 3 programme for some or all of its pupils.

Rosemellin Community Interest Company

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what correspondence his Department has had with the Rosemellin Community Interest Company on their proposals to meet community needs with a one stop shop facility; if he will place in the Library copies of that correspondence; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 29 November 2007
	This Department received a letter, and a booklet, from the Rosemellin Community Interest Co. on 6 November, 2007. Officials will be responding in due course. A copy will, of course, be sent to the House of Commons Library as requested.

School Leaving

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his latest estimate is of the cost of implementing the proposed raising of the school participation age to 18 years.

Jim Knight: The estimated costs of raising the participation age were set out in the initial regulatory impact assessment published alongside the Green Paper on 22 March 2007. Annual costs were estimated at around £700 million per cohort of young people, but recurring annual benefits were around £1,400 million. This can be accessed at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/RIA%20[FINAL]%20word%20version.pdf
	and I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.
	These projections have been updated, and revised figures will feature in the regulatory impact assessment that was published alongside the Bill. This was placed in the Library of the House on 29 November.

Schools: Crime

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students in each London borough were charged with a criminal offence for incidents that took place  (a) in educational institutions and  (b) on school property in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Schools: Transport

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what consideration he has given to the funding of free transport to enable students over the age of 16 to reach schools and colleges if the school leaving age is raised to 18.

Jim Knight: We will be looking very carefully at the structure of financial support to ensure that it continues to be as effective as possible in the context of the raised participation age, including support for transport and other learning-related costs.

Specialised Diplomas

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has paid to consultants looking into the implementation of the new diplomas.

Kevin Brennan: Between April 2006 and November 2007, the Department has paid £2.52 million to consultants for advice and support on the implementation of diplomas.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency: Manpower

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many whole-time equivalent staff were employed by the Child Support Agency  (a) in each region and  (b) in Newcastle and North Tyneside (i) in 2005-06, (ii) in 2006-07 and (iii) on the most recent date for which figures are available; and how many are expected to transfer to the Agency's successor organisation in 2008.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty dated 11 December 2007:
	In reply to your recent parliamentary question about the child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and pensions, how many whole-time equivalent staff were employed by the Child Support Agency  (a) in each region and  (b) in Newcastle and north Tyneside (i) in 2005-06 in 2006-07 and (iii) on the most recent date for which figures are available; and how many are expected to transfer to the Agency's successor organisation in 2008.
	The total number of people employed by Government office Region is provide in the attached Table 1, and the number employed in Newcastle and North Tyneside is attached in Table 2. Figures are based on the Office of national Statistics (ONS) standard, for use in the calculation of all public sector employment statistics.
	All people who carry out functions of the Child Support Agency in Great Britain will move to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, at the same time as the functions of the Agency are transferred.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.
	
		
			  Table 1: Child Support Agency people in post (whole time equivalent) by Government Office Region 2005-06 and 2006-07 
			  Counting methodology  Office of national Statistics (ONS)  ONS 
			  Government Office Region  March 2006  March 2007  October 2007 
			 East Midlands 187 139 115 
			 Eastern 439 336 355 
			 London 68 115 93 
			 North East 1,303 1,652 1,590 
			 North West 2,318 2,422 2,177 
			 Scotland 1,718 1,746 1,591 
			 South East 1,187 1,267 1,113 
			 South West 1,750 1,601 1,442 
			 Wales 125 126 118 
			 West Midlands 1,544 1,458 1,323 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 395 362 331 
			 Grand total 11,034 11,225 10,248 
			  Notes:  1. The Office of National Statistics standard has been used from November 2005.  2. The North West Government office Region includes Merseyside. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 1: Child Support Agency people in post  for Newcastle and North Tyneside  (whole time equivalent) 2005-06 and 2006-07 
			  Counting methodology  Office of national Statistics (ONS)  ONS 
			   March 2006  March 2007  October 2007 
			  North East
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 965.65 1,154.24 1,135.68 
			  Notes:  1. The Office of National Statistics standard has been used from November 2005.

Conditions of Employment: Mental Health

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 27 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 27-30WS, on mental health and employment, how many advice and support services for employers he will pilot; where each will be based; when he expects each to start; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: On 27 November we announced our intention to pilot a new advice and support service for employers, in particular smaller businesses, to help them in managing and supporting people with mental health conditions to remain in or return to work.
	We will be developing detailed proposals for the scope and delivery mechanisms of these pilots over the coming months, working closely with employers and their representative organisations to ensure that the pilot service best meets the needs of business.

Conditions of Employment: Mental Health

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 27 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 27-30WS, on Mental health and employment, how many Pathways Advisory Service pilots there are; where each is based; and where subsequent pilots will be located.

Caroline Flint: The current Pathways Advisory Service is a small scale pilot to test the impact of delivering an outreach service in health settings. The pilot is currently based in six Jobcentre Plus districts: Highlands and Islands; Clyde Coast and Grampian; Gateshead and South Tyneside; Bridgend, Rhondda, Cynon Taff; East Lancashire; and Somerset.
	We are planning to expand the scope of the pilots to ensure that we gain robust evidence and learn as much as possible about the impact that joint working in this way can achieve. We are still considering the exact plans for implementation of this expansion, which will have a particular focus on supporting people with mental health problems.

Departmental Aviation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on  (a) business and  (b) first class air travel in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: Between November 2006 and October 2007, the Department for Work and Pensions spent £554,605 on business class air travel and £7,653 on first class flights.

Departmental Cost Effectiveness

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the £960 million in efficiency savings that his Department is projected to make under the spending review 2004 efficiency review is cashable.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions' efficiency target for spending review 2004 is that at least half of the £960 million efficiency savings must be cash releasing. By September 2007, annual cash releasing savings of £952 million had been achieved.

Departmental Postal Services

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many items of post sent by his Department and its predecessor were reported missing by the intended recipient in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: DWP dispatches some 200 million items of mail per year to its customers via documented and undocumented postal services from its individual businesses, offices and processing centres. The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would be at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Responsibilities

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) reviews,  (b) consultations and  (c) taskforces his Department is (i) responsible for and (ii) scheduled to implement; on what date each (A) started and (B) is expected to be completed; and what the purpose is of each.

Anne McGuire: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department collects and monitors in relation to the telephone contact centres for which his Department is responsible.

Anne McGuire: The following lists provide examples of the range of measures collected by the Departments Contact Centres.
	In addition Business units collect a vast amount of individual pieces of information at various levels (individual, team, command, business unit, etc.) and by frequency. To obtain and list each individual piece of information would incur disproportionate costs.
	The Department monitors the effectiveness of its contact centres through a scorecard that measures performance across a balanced range of measures. Performance is reported on a monthly basis to the Department's Contact Centre Advisory Team and, each quarter, to the DWP Planning, Performance and Risk Committee. Performance is also monitored by the Contact Centre Performance Working Group whose remit is to: understand and improve performance; identify common performance pressure points, share good practice; and support common performance improvement initiatives.
	In addition, each Business Unit employs a range of performance management measures and tools to monitor the effectiveness of its centres which, for example, include: real time and historic performance measurement; mystery shopping; and the reviewing of the performance of individual agents.
	The Department also now reports on the performance of its contact centres to the Contact Council established following Sir David Varney's recommendations in his report "Service transformation: A better service for citizens and businesses, a better deal for the taxpayer".
	Examples of measures currently reported into the DWP Contact Centre Scorecard and Cabinet Office are:
	Percentage Demand Forecast Accuracy
	Percentage Calls Answered by Agents
	Percentage Service Level
	Percentage Agent Utilisation
	Average Speed of Answer
	Percentage Calls Blocked and Failed
	Absence Levels
	Staff Attrition
	Cost per Contact Minute
	Budget Tolerance
	Percentage Staff Satisfaction and Engagement
	Percentage Scheduled Adherence
	Seat Utilisation
	In addition to the aforementioned measures individual business units employ a range of performance management measures and tools to monitor the effectiveness of its centres. Examples listed as follows:
	Telephone based customer surveys
	Call quality assessment
	Side by side and remote call listening
	Monthly report on complaints and praise received
	Mystery Shopping
	Exit interviews
	Claims Received (The Pension Service)
	Claims Processed (The Pension Service)
	Percentage Accuracy (The Pension Service)
	Changes Received (The Pension Service)
	Changes Processed (The Pension Service)
	Real Time Monitoring
	Average Wait Time
	Average Call Handling Time

Departmental Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much each telephone contact centre for which his Department is responsible has  (a) cost and  (b) generated in income in each financial year since their establishment.

Anne McGuire: The information is as follows.
	 (a) The information requested on how much each contact centre costs is shown in the following table.
	 (b) DWP Contact Centres do not generate income. However, the Department's use of 0845 numbers does attract a small rebate from BT and has been running at approximately £0.5 million per annum which is offset against DWP telephony costs. Obtaining the rebate information by individual site and for the period requested would incur disproportionate costs.
	
		
			   2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Disability and Carers( 1) (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— (3)— (3)— — (4)— 
			 Benefit Enquiry Line 9,540,865 8,315,719 9,067,186 9,572,303 10,774,196 11,067,939 1,762,062 960,622 
			 DLA/AA Helpline — — — — — — 8,491,037 5,227,665 
			  
			  Child Support Agency( 5) 
			 Dudley — — — — — — — — 
			 Hastings — — — — — — — — 
			 Falkirk — — — — — — — — 
			 Plymouth — — — — — — — — 
			 Birkenhead and Liverpool — — — — — — — — 
			 Belfast — — — — — — — — 
			  
			  Debt Management( 6)(4)— 
			 Trafford — — — — — 9,735,454 9,524,266 5,327,328 
			  
			  The Pension Service( 7)(4)— 
			 Burnley — — — — — 9,858,281 12,097,029 6,956,091 
			 Cwmbran — — — — — 6,645,231 7,033,671 4,125,927 
			 Dundee — — — — — 9,904,371 10,443,427 6,032,465 
			 Futures — — — — — 20,366,623 11,374,531 5,501,042 
			 International Pension Centre inc. Medical Benefits — — — — — 22,454,656 23,914,637 13,255,214 
			 Leicester — — — — — 6,669,838 7,165,675 4,163,650 
			 London Pension Centre Newcastle — — — — — 12,556,054 13,333,458 7,684,133 
			 Motherwell — — — — — 10,847,124 11,763,602 6,942,838 
			 Seaham — — — — — 8,786,685 9,192,056 5,050,531 
			 Stockport — — — — — 13,982,912 13,652,163 7,974,384 
			 Swansea — — — — — 13,044,277 13,596,933 7,302,400 
			 Warrington — — — — — 11,558,235 12,086,898 7,342,416 
			 Bath — — — — — 9,215,545 8,650,349 3,554,916 
			 Birmingham — — — — — 8,619,602 8,493,998 4,509,315 
			 Blackpool — — — — — 5,038,982 4,714,033 1,846,564 
			 Dearne Valley — — — — — 8,505,959 8,256,244 3,487,550 
			 Goole — — — — — — 3,319,502 195,453 
			 National Pension Centre — — — — — 20,541,460 19,238,740 9,587,270 
			 Pension Credit Application Line — — — — — 9,987,616 6,120,149 2,270,358 
			 Walsall — — — — — 6,048,403 6,412,068 3,377,940 
			 Winter Fuel Cardiff — — — — — 1,828,193 1,695,249 854,437 
			  
			  Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre( 8)(9)— 
			 Annesley — — — — — 2,283,465 2,731,037 3,001,816 
			 Bangor — — — — — 197,535 5,266,459 6,514,233 
			 Blackburn — — — — 1,569,481 2,368,823 3,124,082 3,507,072 
			 Bootle — — — — 1,581,470 2,770,950 3,880,126 3,862,846 
			 Bridgend — — — — 2,006,999 4,774,976 6,827,700 7,123,014 
			 Caerphilly — — — — — 1,961,426 2,268,693 2,488,299 
			 Clydebank — — — — — 2,475,688 2,723,815 2,672,535 
			 Coventry — — — — 989,258 2,466,140 5,171,199 5,551,312 
			 Derby — — — — 1,290,265 7,526,058 9,590,432 9,650,393 
			 Dundee — — — — 3,456,890 4,807,075 5,772,021 5,898,686 
			 Exeter — — — — — 2,647,398 3,211,627 3,442,509 
			 Garston — — — — 2,469,659 3,657,666 5,589,917 5,234,946 
			 Grimsby Europarc — — — — — 2,133,730 2,590,361 2,572,710 
			 Grimsby Crown House — — — — 1,577,273 2,951,117 4,435,835 4,844,598 
			 Halifax — — — — 2,849,431 3,801,454 5,436,191 5,413,141 
			 Lincoln — — — — 1,539,762 2,830,023 4,599,317 4,490,367 
			 Liverpool — — — — — 2,296,567 2,926,902 3,110,896 
			 Lowestoft — — — — 2,250,525 3,840,502 4,730,461 5,012,521 
			 Marton Mere (Blackpool) — — — — 2,378,730 3,281,176 4,264,681 4,419,620 
			 Middlesbrough — — — — 2,076,667 3,728,288 5,696,637 5,913,909 
			 Preston — — — — — 1,212,910 808,387 1,252,455 
			 Newcastle — — — — 1,261,543 3,978,730 4,716,194 4,805,919 
			 Paisley — — — — 2,090,777 3,523,629 3,999,755 4,177,437 
			 Pembroke Dock — — — — 4,219,902 4,625,854 4,801,012 4,946,808 
			 Poole — — — — 1,791,463 2,713,430 3,542,123 3,587,092 
			 Sheffield — — — — 783,312 1,699,867 2,810,084 2,961,854 
			 Southend — — — — — 2,590,006 3,256,547 3,310,187 
			 Taunton — — — — 688,667 1,972,862 3,327,757 3,515,514 
			 Telford New Town House — — — — 720,237 1,761,820 3,912,983 3,911,397 
			 Telford Plaza — — — — — 2,540,396 3,043,170 2,862,097 
			 Torquay — — — — 1,815,285 3,257,115 4,505,976 4,576,123 
			 (1) Costs include staff and non-staff costs (excluding estates and IS/IT). (2) Costs for DCS Customer Services Group (includes non contact centre costs). (3) Costs combined for Benefit Enquiry Line and DLA/AA Helpline. (4) Costs up to October 2007 ytd. (5) Costs not available by individual site. The total administrative expenditure of the agency is disclosed each year in the annual report and accounts. (6) Costs include staff and non-staff costs including IS/IT, estates, contracts and recharges. 2006-07 post and stationery costs managed from central budget. (7 )Costs include staff and non staff costs (excluding estates and other centrally held budgets). (8) Costs include staff, non-staff costs, estates and IS/ IT. (9 )Full years forecast costs for 2007-08.

Housing: Low Incomes

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on  (a) advice on and  (b) overall implementation of local housing allowance in the nine pathfinder areas.

James Plaskitt: The Department has paid out around £9.7 million for the overall implementation of the local housing allowance in the nine pathfinder authority areas. This money was for a range of implementation activity. The payments were made at regular intervals to the pathfinder authorities and included funds for money management advice, IT costs, training, communications and advertising.
	It is not possible to provide a breakdown of expenditure by each activity.

Jobcentre Plus: Applications

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken for Jobcentre Plus to process applications for crisis loans and community care grants was in each of the last five years, broken down by outcome of application.

James Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on 3 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 883-84W, for information on average clearance times. We are not able to break down the average clearance times by outcome.

Jobcentre Plus: Telephones

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of calls received from a mobile telephone by  (a) the Social Fund and  (b) Jobcentre Plus in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of the total number of calls received this represented in each case.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Mel Groves, dated 11 December 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked Lesley Strathie to reply to your question asking what estimate he has made of the number of calls received from a mobile phone by  (a) Social Fund  (b) Jobcentre Plus in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of the total number of calls received this represented in each case. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Ms Strathie as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. I am replying in her absence as Acting Chief Executive.
	Jobcentre Plus is unable to establish the origin of each call received through any of our telephones. Our telephony systems do not record if a customer's call is made from a land line or mobile phone.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Lone Parents

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make an assessment of the suitability of the procedures for jobseeker's allowance for lone parents; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: There are already a number of lone parents who are claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) rather than Income Support who are able to meet the conditions for receipt of JSA and make use of the help available to get back to work.
	JSA conditions already have flexibilities with the necessary scope to allow carers, including lone parents, to tailor their availability for work to suit their personal circumstances. These include: changing their pattern of availability during school holidays; limiting availability to a minimum of 16 hours and; being treated as available and actively seeking work if there is a domestic emergency. Each case is judged on its own merit and all the available evidence is considered in reaching a decision. However, these flexibilities are subject to them having a reasonable prospect of finding work and being available for work for at least 16 hours a week.
	The impact of these measures and how they can best be tailored to lone parents, were considered in our Green Paper 'In work, better off: next steps to full employment' and in the subsequent consultation on its proposals. We will be responding to these in our Green Paper response.

Local Authorities: Equal Opportunities

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department issued to local authorities on the provision of access to disability information services for disabled people.

Anne McGuire: Within my Department the Office for Disability Issues has been working with central and local government and disability organisations to look at how disabled people get information about public services, what they think of it, and how access to that information can be improved.
	Two reports were published earlier this year as a result of the project's work, aimed at communicators and practitioners. One, 'Improving Information for Disabled People' summarised the progress that had been made and the other, 'Five principles for producing better information for disabled people' set out the five core information principles that have been identified 'as essential to make sure that services and information are designed and delivered to a high standard.'
	The project is continuing to work in partnership with four local authority-led projects in England, Cheshire, North Tyneside, Surrey and Croydon, aimed at improving provision of services locally.

Departmental Relocation

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what relocations are planned by his Department over the next two years; what the current locations of those posts are; and where they are being relocated to.

Anne McGuire: In line with its commitment to the Lyons Review of Public Sector Relocation, as at 31 October 2007 (latest data available) the Department for Work and Pensions had relocated a total of 3,992 full-time equivalent posts from London and the south-east to other parts of the United Kingdom. A further 28 full-time equivalent relocations are planned over the next two years. Details of the planned relocations are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Current Location  New Location  Number of Posts 
			 London North East Bridgend 17 
			 Hastings Halifax 7 
			 Aldershot, Newport and Portsmouth Derby 12 
			 London South Taunton 7 
			 Kent Derby 2

New Deal for Long Term Unemployed: Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of the entrants to the New Deal 25 plus found sustained employment during  (a) the four month Gateway Period and  (b) the period of activity on mandatory options in each year since the inception of the programme; and what percentage of those engaged in each option found sustained employment.

Caroline Flint: New Deal 25 plus is mandatory for people aged 25 and over who have claimed jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for 18 out of the last 21 months. Participants enter a Gateway of intensive job search and specialist help to improve job prospects which lasts for a maximum of 16 weeks.
	Those still claiming JSA at the end of the Gateway take part in the Intensive Activity Period (IAP). This lasts for a minimum of 13 weeks and is designed to give people the skills and experience they need to move into work. IAP provision includes basic employability training, self-employment support, education and training opportunities, and flexible packages of support, which can combine work experience or placements, work-focused training and help with motivation and soft skills. Those still unemployed at the end of the IAP period are referred to the Follow-Through phase of the programme.
	The available information requested has been placed in the Library.

New Deal for Young People: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals who participated in new deal for young people in the Peterborough constituency were not in either full-time or part-time work 12 months after completing the scheme in each year since 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 4 December 2007
	Information is not available on how many individuals who participated in new deal for young people in the Peterborough constituency were not in either full-time or part-time work 12 months after completing the scheme in each year since 1998.
	The available information on the immediate destination of leavers from new deal for young people in the Peterborough constituency is in the following tables.
	
		
			  New deal for young people—immediate destination on leaving, Peterborough parliamentary  constituency 
			  Number 
			   1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  Total 
			 Sustained employment 70 200 170 140 170 180 120 120 140 1,390 
			 Employment and benefits 0 20 20 10 20 10 10 10 0 100 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 10 30 40 40 20 30 20 30 30 270 
			 Income support 0 20 10 10 10 10 10 0 10 90 
			 Incapacity benefit 0 10 10 10 10 10 10 0 10 70 
			 Income support and incapacity benefit 10 30 20 30 30 20 20 20 30 210 
			 Benefits—other/unknown benefits 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 90 
			 Other known 10 20 10 20 10 20 20 20 10 160 
			 Off benefits/unknown 40 90 100 90 120 130 110 110 140 1,010 
			 Total 150 430 390 360 390 420 330 340 380 3,400 
			  Notes: 1. Latest complete year data are 2006. 2. Immediate destination is measured within two weeks of leaving new deal, using information from the Work and Pensions longitudinal study (WPLS). 3. People recorded as leaving to Employment and Benefits have evidence of both employment and an active benefit. 4. Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate 
		
	
	
		
			  New deal for young people— immediate destination on leaving, Peterborough parliamentary  constituency 
			  Percentage 
			   1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  Total 
			 Sustained employment 47 47 44 39 44 43 36 35 37 41 
			 Employment and benefits 0 5 5 3 5 2 3 3 0 3 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 7 7 10 11 5 7 6 9 8 8 
			 Income support 0 5 3 3 3 2 3 0 3 3 
			 Incapacity benefit 0 2 3 3 3 2 3 0 3 2 
			 Income support and incapacity benefit 7 7 5 8 8 5 6 6 8 6 
			 Benefits—other/unknown benefits 7 2 3 3 0 2 3 3 3 3 
			 Other known 7 5 3 6 3 5 6 6 3 5 
			 Off benefits/unknown 27 21 26 25 31 31 33 32 37 30 
			  Notes: 1. Latest complete year data are 2006. 2. Immediate destination is measured within two weeks of leaving new deal, using information from the Work and Pensions longitudinal study (WPLS). 3. People recorded as leaving to Employment and Benefits have evidence of both employment and an active benefit.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate 
		
	
	
		
			  New deal for young people—leavers to sustained unsubsidised employment, Peterborough parliamentary constituency 
			  Percentage 
			   As a proportion of all leavers  As a proportion of leavers with a known destination 
			 1998 47 64 
			 1999 47 59 
			 2000 44 59 
			 2001 39 52 
			 2002 44 63 
			 2003 43 62 
			 2004 36 55 
			 2005 35 52 
			 2006 37 58 
			  Note: Latest complete year data are to 2006.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate

New Deal Schemes

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those leaving  (a) the New Deal for Young People,  (b) New Deal 25 plus and  (c) the New Deal for Lone Parents have entered unsubsidised, sustained employment in each year since the inception of these schemes.

Caroline Flint: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Pensions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  for what reasons the Government's response to the Deregulatory Review of Private Pensions recommended the introduction of a statutory override to allow schemes to implement the Pensions Act 2004 changes which reduced the limited price indexation cap from five per cent. to 2.5 per cent.; and if he will place in the Library the advice he received on this matter;
	(2)  for what reasons the Government's response to the Deregulatory Review of Private Pensions recommended the reduction of the cap for revaluation of deferred rights from five per cent. to 2.5 per cent.; and if he will place in the Library the advice he received on this matter.

Mike O'Brien: Introducing a statutory override of scheme rules in relation to the change in the cap on indexation for future rights, and a reduction in the cap on revaluation from 5 per cent. to 2.5 per cent. for future rights, together with the other measures outlined in the Government response, aims to help employers to keep defined benefit schemes open, to the benefit of scheme members. The Government response seeks views on those proposals accordingly.
	The Government carefully considered the areas where deregulation would be of most benefit to good quality defined benefit schemes, while bearing in mind the need to balance any changes to legislation with protection for members. It accepted the reviewers' important recommendation that no changes should be made to rights which have already been built up.
	The issues on the proposed statutory override and change to the revaluation cap are fully set out in the reviewers' report and the Government response. Copies of the report and response have been placed in the Library of the House.

Social Security Benefits: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what medical assessments are made of people who apply for benefits following a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Entitlement to disability or sickness related benefits is decided in the same way for people with chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis as for other conditions. Assessments are based on the effects of the condition on each person's physical and mental function or their care or mobility needs.
	For claimants of incapacity benefits, the Personal Capability Assessment is applied from the outset of the claim to people who have not recently been working in a regular occupation and to all other claims after 28 weeks of incapacity. For claimants of disability living allowance or attendance allowance, a medical examination would only take place if the decision maker feels that it is necessary.

Social Security Benefits: Overseas Residence

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the use of overseas mail clearing services for his Department's post to overseas benefits recipients on the time taken for letters to be delivered to those recipients.

Anne McGuire: DWP's international mail is collected daily from DWP benefit processing output centres and is sorted into EU, Non-EU and Rest Of World destinations for despatch via air.
	The mail is then handed to the National Postal Authority (in which the recipient lives) for final delivery via an undocumented service. All mail travels as 'Priority' which is equivalent to a first class service.
	Average Transit times are:
	Rest of World countries: seven to 10 days.
	European Countries: five to seven days.
	The factors which have adversely affected a country's transit time include: Weather (flood, snowfall etc.), political and civil unrest, flight delay affected by weather etc.
	Regular contact between DWP and Spring Global Mail (our international mail providers) establishes any service failures and investigate as appropriate to indicate whether there are problems affecting delivery to certain countries.

Single Equality Bill

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Minister for Equality, the hon. Member for Stevenage (Barbara Follett) on proposals for a Single Equality Bill.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 3 December 2007
	 I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a range of issues.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Disorders

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what programmes designed to combat anti-social behaviour are administered by her Department; and what the budget for each was for the last five years for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: Since 2003-04, the Home Office has made £34.4 million available in each year specifically and solely to tackle antisocial behaviour. This includes funding for the Respect programme, which is now the responsibility of the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and a grant for antisocial behaviour co-ordinators.
	In 2005-06, in England the antisocial co-ordinators grant was pooled within the safer and stronger communities fund. This pooled budget supports the delivery of outcomes contained in local area agreements (LAAs). All LAAs include for this year (2007-08) mandatory outcomes and indicators relating to antisocial behaviour.
	There are many funding streams that impact on antisocial behaviour. A more detailed account can be found in the report by the National Audit Office "Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour" (HC99 2006-07, December 2006). Other Home Office led activities also act to tackle antisocial behaviour, for example the introduction of community support officers, but a monetary value cannot be assigned to that contribution. Similarly, other Government Departments fund services that directly bear upon antisocial behaviour. For example the Crown Prosecution Service provides a network of specialist antisocial behaviour prosecutors, and Her Majesty's Court Service provides specialist antisocial behaviour response courts. There are many other programmes and services that contribute, sometimes indirectly, to tackling antisocial behaviour, including diversionary activities for young people, action against enviro-crime such as fly-tipping, neighbourhood wardens, as well as neighbourhood policing and neighbourhood management. A more detailed account can be found in the report of, and evidence to, the Home Affairs Select Committee's report on anti-social behaviour (Fifth Report, Session 2004-05, HC80).

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many anti-social behaviour orders were issued in Lincolnshire in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many anti-social behaviour orders were issued in England and Wales in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued at all courts in England and Wales from January to December 2005 (latest available) is 4,060.
	The number of antisocial behaviour orders issued at all courts in the Lincolnshire criminal justice system area from January to December 2005 (latest available) is 20.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders were made in the City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in each year since their introduction.

Vernon Coaker: The number of antisocial behaviour orders issued in each year where the prohibitions specify an area within the city of Newcastle upon Tyne is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of ASBOs issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, by period and where restrictions are imposed within the local authority area of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, up to 31 December 2005( 1) 
			   1 June 2000 to 31 December 2000  1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001  1 June 2002 to 31 December 2002  1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003  1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004  1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005  1 June 2000 to 31 December 2005 
			 City of Newcastle upon Tyne — 4 4 4 12 34 58 
			 (1) Between 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area (pfa).  Notes: 1. This local authority area table differs from criminal justice system area (cjsa) tables in that an issuing court can be outside the area in which the restrictions have been imposed. For example, an issuing court may be in Hampshire (cjsa) but restrictions apply solely to a local authority area within Dorset. 2. Previously issued data have been revised following joint Home Office/Court Service data reconciliation exercises. 3. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: RDS-OCJR.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home 
	(1)  Department how many  (a) anti-social behaviour orders and  (b) acceptable behaviour contracts were (i) breached and (ii) breached leading to a conviction in each police force area in each year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many  (a) anti-social behaviour orders and  (b) acceptable behaviour contracts were issued by each police force in each year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: Data on acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) are not collected by the Home Office as they are voluntary agreements and therefore not suitable for central data collection. However, surveys carried out by the Respect Task Force of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) indicated that over 25,000 ABCs have been made since October 2003.
	Antisocial behaviour orders are issued by the courts. Statistics on breaches of antisocial behaviour order are collected centrally only where the breach has been proven in court. Criminal justice system (CJS) areas are coterminous with police force areas. The available information is shown in the tables.
	
		
			  Number of ASBOs proven in court to have been breached at least once between 1 June 2000 and 31 December 2005 by CJS area( 1) 
			  CJS area  Number breached 
			 Avon and Somerset 103 
			 Bedfordshire 32 
			 Cambridgeshire 34 
			 Cheshire 90 
			 Cleveland 74 
			 Cumbria 68 
			 Derbyshire 51 
			 Devon and Cornwall 53 
			 Dorset 51 
			 Durham 71 
			 Dyfed Powys 16 
			 Essex 81 
			 Gloucestershire 41 
			 Greater London 463 
			 Greater Manchester 686 
			 Gwent 46 
			 Hampshire 133 
			 Hertfordshire 54 
			 Humberside 100 
			 Kent(2) 22 
			 Lancashire 176 
			 Leicestershire 59 
			 Lincolnshire 21 
			 Merseyside 136 
			 Norfolk 45 
			 Northamptonshire(2) 9 
			 Northumbria 131 
			 North Wales 77 
			 North Yorkshire 41 
			 Nottinghamshire 109 
			 South Wales 59 
			 South Yorkshire 132 
			 Staffordshire 67 
			 Suffolk 65 
			 Surrey 48 
			 Sussex 121 
			 Thames Valley 70 
			 Warwickshire 48 
			 West Mercia 103 
			 West Midlands 373 
			 West Yorkshire 384 
			 Wiltshire 25 
			 England and Wales 4,568 
			 (1) ASBOs may be issued in one area and breached in another. Breaches are counted in this table on the area of Issue.  (2) Breach data from the magistrates' court administrative systems in Kent and Northamptonshire are known to have been under-reported.   Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  OCJR Court Proceedings Database. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of anti-social behaviour orders issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, by CJS area and year, April 1999 to December 2005 
			  CJS Area  April 1999  to  May 2000  June 2000 to December 2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 9 3 19 10 31 89 61 222 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 4 4 16 18 40 82 
			 Cambridgeshire 5 1 2 2 15 26 50 101 
			 Cheshire 0 0 2 13 33 62 98 208 
			 Cleveland 1 4 4 5 14 28 60 116 
			 Cumbria 1 1 1 13 20 31 49 116 
			 Derbyshire 3 7 6 2 10 46 54 128 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1 0 10  12 80 72 178 
			 Dorset 0 2 3 0 17 36 19 77 
			 Durham 0 5 9 8 16 31 27 96 
			 Essex 0 0 0 2 16 59 72 149 
			 Gloucestershire 0 2 2 1 7 26 30 68 
			 Greater London 9 19 15 21 139 441 528 1,172 
			 Greater Manchester 10 2 25 78 236 430 456 1,237 
			 Hampshire 1 2 6 10 43 99 112 273 
			 Hertfordshire 1 1 9 6 17 40 72 146 
			 Humberside 0 9 4 4 10 72 137 236 
			 Kent 0 3 17 16 25 54 44 159 
			 Lancashire 5 5 11 13 54 126 148 362 
			 Leicestershire 1 4 0 1 15 41 59 121 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 2 2 7 12 20 43 
			 Merseyside 8 3 7 22 44 96 128 308 
			 Norfolk 6 0 12 9 7 43 46 123 
			 Northamptonshire 1 2 5 1 6 39 31 85 
			 Northumbria 7 5 9 16 25 74 173 309 
			 North Yorkshire 4 0 7 0 9 41 34 95 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 4 11 2 21 91 126 256 
			 South Yorkshire 3 1 7 19 34 80 104 248 
			 Staffordshire 0 4 6 12 30 59 59 170 
			 Suffolk 3 0 4 5 25 78 53 168 
			 Surrey 0 2 2 2 7 48 49 110 
			 Sussex 3 4 3 16 31 97 94 248 
			 Thames Valley 1 1 7 6 16 77 55 163 
			 Warwickshire 0 1 2 15 11 28 30 87 
			 West Mercia 5 8 39 30 28 56 70 236 
			 West Midlands 11 28 58 30 119 238 303 787 
			 West Yorkshire 4 2 14 14 97 305 260 696 
			  
			  England 104 135 344 414 1,272 3,317 3,845 9,431 
			 Dyfed Powys 0 0 0 0 12 8 15 35 
			 Gwent 0 0 2 2 8 27 33 72 
			 North Wales 0 1 0 7 15 42 103 168 
			 South Wales 0 1 4 3 29 46 64 147 
			  
			  Wales 0 2 6 12 64 123 215 422 
			 Total England and Wales 104 137 350 426 1,336 3,440 4,060 9,853 
			 (1): Previously issued data have been revised following joint Home Office/Court Service data reconciliation exercises.  (2): Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:   RDS-OCJR

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Children

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in respect of 10 to 17-year-olds for the longest period for which figures are available, broken down by local authority area.

Vernon Coaker: The information is available at Criminal Justice System Area level only. Annual data from April 1999 to 31 December 2005 (latest available), are given in the table.
	
		
			  Table A2: Persons aged 10-17: Number of antisocial behaviour orders issued at all courts as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service by area and year, April 1999( 1)  to December 2005 
			Total 
			  CJS area  Total issued  April 1999-May 2000( 1)  June 2000 to December 2000  2001  2002  2003 
			 Avon and Somerset 71 — 2 7 4 10 
			 Bedfordshire 28 — 0 1 2 8 
			 Cambridgeshire 30 — 0 1 2 10 
			 Cheshire 81 — 0 2 5 14 
			 Cleveland 64 — 4 3 5 9 
			 Cumbria 50 — 0 0 5 7 
			 Derbyshire 44 — 0 3 2 3 
			 Devon and Cornwall 33 — 0 5 1 3 
			 Dorset 41 — 2 3 0 10 
			 Durham 44 — 2 5 5 8 
			 Essex 71 — 0 0 2 4 
			 Gloucestershire 39 — 1 2 0 5 
			 Greater London 359 — 10 10 4 41 
			 Greater Manchester 626 — 2 17 54 145 
			 Hampshire 123 — 0 3 8 22 
			 Hertfordshire 64 — 1 4 6 11 
			 Humberside 112 — 2 3 2 5 
			 Kent 77 — 2 15 4 12 
			 Lancashire 155 — 2 4 12 36 
			 Leicestershire 45 — 4 0 0 7 
			 Lincolnshire 16 — 0 2 1 3 
			 Merseyside 151 — 1 4 18 23 
			 Norfolk 37 — 0 6 3 4 
			 Northamptonshire 28 — 2 4 1 3 
			 Northumbria 125 — 2 3 12 9 
			 North Yorkshire 27 — 0 4 0 4 
			 Nottinghamshire 106 — 3 2 1 11 
			 South Yorkshire 110 — 1 4 10 12 
			 Staffordshire 78 — 0 3 7 12 
			 Suffolk 59 — 0 3 5 9 
			 Surrey 48 — 0 2 2 3 
			 Sussex 116 — 4 2 10 16 
			 Thames Valley 39 — 0 3 2 5 
			 Warwickshire 40 — 0 2 10 6 
			 West Mercia 96 — 3 21 12 13 
			 West Midlands 216 — 9 28 13 23 
			 West Yorkshire 354 — 2 9 11 60 
			 Wiltshire 16 — 0 0 1 4 
			
			 England 3,819 — 61 190 242 590 
			
			 Dyfed Powys 6 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Gwent 40 — 0 2 2 4 
			 North Wales 77 — 1 0 4 9 
			 South Wales 55 — 0 1 1 17 
			
			 Wales 178 — 1 3 7 30 
			
			 Total England and Wales 3,997 — 62 193 249 620 
		
	
	
		
			   2004  2005 
			  CJS area  January to March  April to June  July to September  October to December  Total  January to March  April to June  July to September  October to December  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 5 5 11 9 30 10 2 3 3 18 
			 Bedfordshire 1 2 2 1 6 2 5 2 2 11 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 0 1 1 3 1 7 3 3 14 
			 Cheshire 3 11 5 9 28 5 15 7 5 32 
			 Cleveland 3 0 2 10 15 5 5 8 10 28 
			 Cumbria 2 3 3 4 12 4 8 9 5 26 
			 Derbyshire 1 5 5 3 14 4 4 8 6 22 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1 3 0 3 7 7 3 4 3 17 
			 Dorset 2 6 7 2 17 2 2 2 3 9 
			 Durham 4 3 2 4 13 2 4 4 1 11 
			 Essex 4 5 11 10 30 15 9 9 2 35 
			 Gloucestershire 3 2 3 6 14 10 6 1 0 17 
			 Greater London 16 20 30 40 106 46 65 36 41 188 
			 Greater Manchester 48 52 51 56 207 52 57 53 39 201 
			 Hampshire 8 13 15 10 46 16 11 9 8 44 
			 Hertfordshire 7 5 3 1 16 6 3 13 4 26 
			 Humberside 3 9 13 10 35 19 19 13 14 65 
			 Kent 2 9 4 7 22 10 6 4 2 22 
			 Lancashire 7 10 18 18 53 14 13 11 10 48 
			 Leicestershire 1 1 3 4 9 14 8 1 2 25 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 1 1 2 4 3 1 0 8 
			 Merseyside 11 8 12 17 48 18 14 14 11 57 
			 Norfolk 1 5 4 2 12 6 2 2 2 12 
			 Northamptonshire 2 2 5 2 11 2 1 3 1 7 
			 Northumbria 3 11 8 14 36 22 19 15 7 63 
			 North Yorkshire 5 0 2 6 13 1 1 2 2 6 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 3 12 11 28 16 13 15 17 61 
			 South Yorkshire 4 11 12 14 41 13 10 7 12 42 
			 Staffordshire 2 2 19 5 28 8 6 9 5 28 
			 Suffolk 2 6 7 9 24 6 5 4 3 18 
			 Surrey 3 7 5 10 25 6 7 1 2 16 
			 Sussex 3 18 10 14 45 6 10 7 16 39 
			 Thames Valley 1 8 8 4 21 1 3 1 3 8 
			 Warwickshire 3 2 2 4 11 4 2 2 3 11 
			 West Mercia 4 6 11 4 25 7 4 9 2 22 
			 West Midlands 8 8 22 17 55 27 23 22 16 88 
			 West Yorkshire 42 49 34 31 156 26 27 30 33 116 
			 Wiltshire 2 1 0 2 5 2 0 2 2 6 
			
			 England 220 311 363 375 1,269 419 402 346 300 1,467 
			
			 Dyfed Powys 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 4 
			 Gwent 3 3 3 3 12 6 6 5 3 20 
			 North Wales 7 2 5 9 23 12 9 12 7 40 
			 South Wales 3 2 4 3 12 9 5 7 3 24 
			
			 Wales 13 8 13 15 49 27 21 25 15 88 
			
			 Total England and Wales 233 319 376 390 1,318 446 423 371 315 1,555 
			 (1 )No age details available for the period April 1999 to May 2000.   Notes:  1. Previously issued data have been revised following joint Home Office/Court Service data reconciliation exercises.  2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Prepared by RDS-OCJR.

Asylum: Sleeping Rough

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the number of asylum seekers living on the streets.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 13 November 2007
	 The information requested is not collated and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

British Nationality

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to extend the time period before non-UK citizens resident in the United Kingdom can apply for naturalisation.

Liam Byrne: We keep under continuing review all relevant periods for qualification for entry into the UK, settlement, and naturalisation.

Chinese Community: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to work with Chinatown employers on the issue of migrant workers; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Border and Immigration Agency is working with the Chinese community and has agreed to hold workshops to inform local employers on their legal responsibilities when employing migrant workers.

Databases: Genetics

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent meetings she has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions on  (a) terrorism and  (b) an increase of the 28 days maximum pre-charge detention of suspected terrorists; what the (i) location and (ii) duration of each meeting was; whether a record of each meeting was kept; who attended each meeting; what the cost was of each meeting, broken down by (A) administrative costs and (B) other costs; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Ministers have not met the Director of Public Prosecutions recently on terrorism-related issues. However, we have undertaken an extensive consultation on proposals for forthcoming counter-terrorism legislation, including extending the maximum period of pre-charge detention for terrorist suspects, and this approach has been widely welcomed. The Director of Public Prosecutions has been involved in discussions at official level on this issue.

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants in her Department  (a) transferred to other Government departments and  (b) left the Civil Service in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) on 13 November 2007,  Official Report, column 203W.

Departmental Manpower

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the full-time equivalent headcount in her Department is; what the forecast full-time equivalent headcount for her Department is for  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The number of staff in the Home Office is published in the quarterly Public Sector Employment report at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/pse0907.pdf
	The Home Office is unable to provide information on projected staff figures for 2008-09 and 2009-10. The Department has yet to finalise work force forward projections.

Departmental Manpower

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people aged  (a) 30 to 39,  (b) 40 to 49,  (c) 50 to 59 and  (d) 60 to 69 years have (i) applied for jobs, (ii) received interviews and (iii) gained (A) temporary and (B) permanent jobs in her Department in 2007.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office, which includes the Border and Immigration Agency, Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau, does not hold the information requested. Applicants for employment are asked but not required to provide this information.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which agencies and programmes in her Department will have a real terms reduction in their budget in 2008-09 arising out of the conclusions of the comprehensive spending review.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office budget for 2008-09 to 2010-11 was settled in the Budget of 2006 and maintained expenditure in real terms over this period. The subsequent 2007 comprehensive spending review allocated additional resource of over £220 million per year to 2010-11 for counter-terrorism and security—taking real growth in the Department's total budget to over 1 per cent. per year over the CSR 07 period.
	Budget allocations for 2008-09 onwards are currently under discussion and have not yet been delegated to individual directorates, agencies or programmes at this time.
	The provisional police funding settlement for the CSR years will be announced in early December as in previous years.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will break down the figures referred to in the answer of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 9233W, on Departments: official hospitality, to give the amounts spent on each function at which hospitality expenses were incurred.

Liam Byrne: A breakdown of the figures, given in the answer of 29 October 2007, could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Deportation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) foreign nationals and  (b) foreign national prisoners were (i) deported or removed and (ii) informed that they were not subject to deportation or removal proceedings after receiving a non-custodial sentence in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested can be obtained only through the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost. The chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency has written regularly to the Home Affairs Committee over the past 18 months providing the most robust and accurate data relating to foreign national prisoners. Copies of this correspondence are available in the Library of the House.

Entry Clearances: Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what employment-related schemes there are under which non-EU citizens are able to obtain  (a) leave to enter or  (b) leave to remain in the UK; and how many non-EU citizens have obtained such leave since (i) 1997 and (ii) 2004, broken down by scheme.

Liam Byrne: The main employment routes available to non-EU nationals are listed as follows.
	Au Pairs Business Persons
	Domestic Workers in Private Households
	Fresh Talent Working in Scotland Scheme (FTWISS) Gap Year Students Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)
	Innovator
	International Graduate Scheme
	Investor
	Sole Representative
	Japan Youth Exchange Minister of Religion
	Overseas Government Employee
	Representative of Overseas Newspapers
	UK Ancestry
	Working
	Work Permit
	In addition to these there are a number of smaller infrequently utilised employment categories such as provision for Aircrew and Off Shore Workers.
	Statistical information on each scheme in the format provided could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the 'Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2006' command paper gives the most up to date information on leave to enter and extensions of leave to remain granted to non-EEA nationals available at that time. A link for ease of reference follows:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm71/7197/7197.asp.
	Copies are also available in the House Library.

Entry Clearances: Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many EU A8 nationals have been registered under the worker registration scheme since 1 May 2004, broken down by  (a) nationality,  (b) year and  (c) quarter.

Liam Byrne: Information concerning the number of A8 nationals is published quarterly in The Accession Monitoring Report. This report currently gives data from 1 May 2004 to 30 June 2007 and a copy has already been deposited in both House Libraries.
	The information you require is published in table 3 of the report, at the following link:
	http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/accession_monitoring_report
	The next Accession Monitoring Report will be published on 20 November 2007.

Entry Clearances: Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) highly skilled and  (b) dependents of highly skilled migrants have been given leave to enter the UK in each year since the inception of the scheme, broken down by nationality.

Liam Byrne: The available data are in the following table and relate to the number of highly skilled migrants approved for the highly skilled migrant programme during the period 2002 to September 2007.
	Dependant information is not centrally recorded.
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	
		
			  HSMP applications granted between 1 January 2002 and 30 September 2007—out of country applications only 
			  Nationality  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007( 1)  Total 
			 Afghanistan 0 0 0 (2)— 0 0 (2)— 
			 Albania 0 (2—) 0 0 (2)— 0 5 
			 Algeria (2—) 5 (2)— 5 0 (2)— 10 
			 American Samoa 0 0 0 (2)— 0 (2)— (2)— 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 0 0 0 0 0 (2)— (2)— 
			 Argentina 5 5 5 10 5 5 35 
			 Armenia (2)— (2)— 5 10 5 10 30 
			 Australia 50 90 185 445 465 745 1,980 
			 Azerbaijan (2)— 5 5 10 10 25 55 
			 Bahamas 0 0 (2)— (2)— (2)— 5 5 
			 Bahrain 0 (2)— 0 0 0 (2)— 5 
			 Bangladesh 5 35 85 190 250 90 660 
			 Barbados (2)— (2)— 5 5 (2)— 5 15 
			 Belarus (2)— 5 10 5 5 5 25 
			 Belize 0 0 0 (2)— 0 0 (2)— 
			 Bolivia 0 0 0 0 (2)— (2)— (2)— 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 0 0 (2)— 0 0 (2)— 
			 Botswana 0 0 (2)— (2)— 0 (2)— 5 
			 Brazil 0 5 20 25 80 25 160 
			 Brit Nat Overseas 5 10 (2)— 5 (2)— 5 25 
			 British Overseas Citizen 0 0 (2)— 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 Bulgaria 0 10 20 30 20 5 80 
			 Cambodia 0 0 (2)— 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 Cameroon 0 5 (2)— 5 10 5 30 
			 Canada 20 45 60 90 105 120 445 
			 Chile 0 0 (2)— 5 5 (2)— 10 
			 China 10 45 115 230 135 105 645 
			 Colombia 5 (2)— (2)— 5 10 10 35 
			 Congo 0 0 0 0 0 (2)— (2)— 
			 Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 0 0 0 (2)— 0 0 (2)— 
			 Croatia 0 (2)— 0 5 5 10 20 
			 Curacao 0 0 (2)— 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 Cyprus (2)— (2)— (2)— 0 0 0 5 
			 Czech Republic (2)— (2)— 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Dominica 0 (2)— (2)— (2)— 0 0 5 
			 Dominican Republic 0 0 0 5 (2)— 0 5 
			 Ecuador (2)— (2)— 0 0 0 (2)— 5 
			 Egypt 5 15 25 20 65 40 170 
			 El Salvador 0 0 0 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 
			 Eritrea 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 5 
			 Estonia (2)— (2)— (2)— 0 0 0 5 
			 Ethiopia 0 5 5 10 15 10 40 
			 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 0 (2)— (2)— 0 0 0 (2—) 
			 Gambia 0 0 (2)— (2)— 0 (2)— 5 
			 Georgia 0 5 5 5 5 (2)— 20 
			 Ghana (2)— 10 20 20 15 25 90 
			 Grenada 0 0 (2)— 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 Guatemala 0 0 0 (2)— 0 0 (2)— 
			 Guinea-bissau 0 0 0 (2)— 0 0 (2)— 
			 Guyana (2)— (2)— 5 (2)— 5 0 10 
			 Honduras 0 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 0 (2—) 
			 Hong Kong (British) (2)— 0 0 5 (2)— 5 10 
			 Hong Kong (Chinese) (2)— (2)— (2)— 0 5 5 10 
			 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China 0 (2)— 5 (2)— 0 (2)— 10 
			 Hungary 0 (2)— (2)— 0 0 0 5 
			 Iceland 0 0 0 (2)— 0 0 (2)— 
			 India 95 315 1,020 2,280 2,395 2,710 8,815 
			 Indonesia 0 (2)— (2)— 5 10 10 30 
			 Iran 5 20 20 25 20 25 115 
			 Iraq 5 15 15 10 10 5 55 
			 Israel 5 30 30 50 40 35 185 
			 Jamaica 5 10 15 10 15 15 75 
			 Japan 5 5 15 25 20 20 85 
			 Jordan (2)— 5 5 5 10 10 35 
			 Kazakhstan 0 5 0 5 5 5 20 
			 Kenya 5 10 15 25 20 40 115 
			 Korea North (Democratic Peoples Rep of) 0 0 0 (2)— (2)— 0 5 
			 Korea South (Rep of Korea) 0 5 10 15 20 20 65 
			 Kuwait 0 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 
			 Kyrgyzstan 0 (2)— (2)— 5 5 (2)— 10 
			 Latvia 0 (2)— 0 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 Lebanon 0 (2)— (2)— 5 5 5 15 
			 Liberia 0 0 0 0 0 (2)— (2)— 
			 Libya (2)— 0 5 0 5 (2)— 10 
			 Lithuania (2)— 5 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Macedonia 0 0 0 (2)— (2)— 0 (2)— 
			 Malawi 0 0 5 5 (2)— 5 15 
			 Malaysia 5 15 20 35 35 85 195 
			 Maldives 0 0 0 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 
			 Malta 0 (2)— 0 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 Mauritania 0 (2)— (2)— 0 (2)— 0 5 
			 Mauritius (2)— 5 10 10 10 10 50 
			 Mexico (2)— 5 10 15 15 15 60 
			 Moldova (Rep of) 0 (2)— 5 15 10 5 35 
			 Mongolia 0 0 0 (2)— (2)— 0 5 
			 Morocco 0 (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— 10 
			 Myanmar (2)— 0 0 (2)— (2)— (2)— 5 
			 Namibia (2)— (2)— 5 5 5 5 15 
			 Nepal (2)— 10 30 85 125 90 340 
			 Nevis—Leeward Islands 0 (2)— 0 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 New Caledonia 0 0 0 0 0 (2)— (2)— 
			 New Zealand 5 45 110 295 370 630 1,450 
			 Nicaragua 0 0 0 0 0 (2)— (2)— 
			 Niger 0 (2)— 0 (2)— (2)— 0 5 
			 Nigeria 20 130 305 840 1,115 1,060 3,475 
			 Oman 0 0 0 (2)— (2)— 0 (2)— 
			 Pakistan 40 200 730 1,300 1,135 870 4,275 
			 Palestine 0 (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— 5 
			 Papua New Guinea 0 0 0 (2)— 0 0 (2)— 
			 Paraguay 0 (2—) 0 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 Peru 0 5 5 10 10 5 35 
			 Philippines (2)— 10 10 15 20 10 70 
			 Poland 0 10 0 0 0 0 10 
			 Romania 0 10 15 20 15 5 60 
			 Russian Federation 5 45 80 180 220 150 680 
			 Saudi Arabia 0 (2)— 5 10 5 (2)— 20 
			 Senegal 0 0 (2)— 0 0 (2)— 5 
			 Serbia 0 (2)— (2)— 5 5 5 20 
			 Seychelles 0 (2)— 0 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 Sierra Leone (2)— 5 5 5 (2)— (2)— 15 
			 Singapore 10 10 20 15 25 30 105 
			 Slovakia 0 0 (2)— 0 0 (2)— (2)— 
			 Slovenia (2)— 0 0 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 Solomon Islands 0 0 0 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 
			 South Africa 40 185 290 365 345 475 1,700 
			 Sri Lanka 5 30 50 130 145 190 550 
			 St. Kitts and Nevis (2)— 0 0 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 St. Lucia (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— 0 0 5 
			 St. Vincent and The Grenadines 0 0 0 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 
			 Sudan 5 10 10 10 10 (2)— 45 
			 Suriname 0 0 (2)— 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 Swaziland 0 (2)— 0 (2)— (2)— 0 5 
			 Syria (Arab Rep) 0 (2)— (2)— (2)— 5 5 10 
			 Taiwan Province of China (2)— 0 5 5 10 10 30 
			 Tanzania (United Rep of) (2)— 5 5 (2)— 5 5 20 
			 Thailand (2)— 0 5 (2)— (2)— 10 15 
			 Trinidad and Tobago (2)— 10 5 10 15 15 55 
			 Tunisia 0 0 0 (2)— (2)— (2)— 5 
			 Turkey 5 25 25 55 40 80 230 
			 Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus 0 0 0 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 
			 Turkmenistan 0 0 (2)— 0 0 0 (2)— 
			 Uganda (2)— (2)— 5 10 5 20 40 
			 Ukraine (2)— 5 25 55 85 55 230 
			 United Arab Emirates 0 0 (2)— (2)— 0 0 (2)— 
			 United States of America 125 275 295 415 405 490 2,000 
			 Uruguay 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 5 
			 Uzbekistan 0 (2)— 5 5 5 5 25 
			 Venezuela (2)— 10 (2)— 5 5 5 30 
			 Vietnam 0 0 (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— 5 
			 Yemen 0 (2—) 0 0 0 (2)— 5 
			 Yugoslavia 0 5 0 (2)— 0 (2)— 10 
			 Zambia 5 15 15 15 10 10 70 
			 Zimbabwe 20 45 55 55 40 50 270 
			 Total 565 1,885 3,905 7,665 8,070 8,590 30,675 
			 (1) 1 January 2007 to 30 September 2007 (2) Indicates 1 or 2  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest five. 2. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. 3. The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Foreigners: Crime

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals have been convicted of crimes related to the  (a) possession of firearms and  (b) selling of illegal drugs in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The courts proceedings database does not hold information regarding the nationality of those convicted for any offence—including offences involving firearms or the sale of illegal drugs.

Illegal Immigrants: Security Guards

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any individuals identified as working in the security industry without valid immigration status are working in Chipping Barnet constituency.

Liam Byrne: This information is not available. The SIA holds only the domestic addresses of licence holders, not their work addresses.
	As the Home Secretary announced to Parliament on 13 November, work is under way on retrospective right to work checks on the estimated 40,000 non-EEA nationals who were granted licences before 2 July 2007. The Home Secretary will report again to Parliament in December when this work is complete.

Illegal Immigrants: Security Guards

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she was first alerted to the fact that illegal immigrants were being issued with licences by the Security Industry Association; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 21 November 2007
	I refer to the statement I made to the House on 13 November about Security Industry Authority licensing checks and the issue of entitlement to work in the United Kingdom.

Immigration: Heathrow Airport

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average waiting time was at immigration for non-EEA citizens entering the UK via London Heathrow Terminal  (a) Two,  (b) Three and  (c) Four in the first six months of 2007.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 November 2007
	We recognise that we have a responsibility to process genuine passengers without delay but the safety and security of the public is our priority.
	There are arrangements in place at selected ports to benchmark performance. The ports in question are using a 45 minutes (non-EEA) and 25 minutes (EEA) queuing time as such a benchmark. This in turn informs staff deployment as well as informing considerations on further investment. We are clear that the averages are well within these benchmarks but will continue to reduce the occasions of exceeding those figures.
	The figures held do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and is currently treated as provisional.
	
		
			  Figures available from Heathrow showing percentage of non-EEA passengers waiting under 45 minutes for the first six months of 2007 
			  Terminal  January  February  March  April  May  June 
			 T2 100 100 100 n/a n/a 100 
			 T3 100 93 100 95 95.28 96.8 
			 T4 100 100 100 n/a 95 100 
			 n/a = Not available.

Missing Persons: Children

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of five years who went missing in the UK and are still unaccounted for went missing in each year since 2000.

Tony McNulty: At the present time, the information requested is not collated centrally. Working with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) has been tasked with setting up a new and enhanced Police National Missing Person's Bureau (PNMPB) and to identify and promulgate good practice in the capture, recording and sharing of data around missing persons. The PNMPB will begin its work on 1 April 2008.

Motor Insurance Database

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles in the Cambridgeshire Constabulary area were impounded following reference to the Motor Insurance Database in each year since May 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Information in the form requested is not available. I understand from the chief constable of Cambridgeshire that between April 2006 and October 2007 the force seized 3,825 vehicles for being driven by a someone without valid insurance.

Motor Insurance Database

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times Cambridgeshire Constabulary accessed the Motor Insurance Database in each month since May 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not recorded centrally.

Offensive Weapons

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were killed in gun or knife attacks in  (a) London,  (b) Lewisham,  (c) Lambeth,  (d) Brent,  (e) Hackney,  (f) Southwark,  (g) Leicester,  (h) Birmingham,  (i) Liverpool and  (j) Manchester in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: Available information relates to the number of homicides recorded at police force area level during the period 2001-02 to 2005-06 where the apparent method of killing was 'sharp instrument' or 'shooting'.
	
		
			  Homicides currently recorded( 1)  where apparent method of killing is sharp instrument( 2)  or shooting( 3) , selected police force areas, 2001-02 to 2005-06( 4) 
			Year offence initially recorded as homicide( 5) 
			  Police force area  Apparent method of killing  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 London(6, 7) Sharp instrument 68 68 61 60 48 
			  Shooting 43 31 22 27 22 
			
			 Leicestershire(8) Sharp instrument 2 4 9 3 3 
			  Shooting 1 0 1 1 0 
			
			 West Midlands(8) Sharp instrument 19 17 22 21 21 
			  Shooting 7 9 6 6 5 
			
			 Merseyside(8) Sharp instrument 3 12 10 14 10 
			  Shooting 6 5 5 8 1 
			
			 Greater Manchester(8) Sharp instrument 23 19 17 15 11 
			  Shooting 11 6 9 8 5 
			 (1) As at 9 October 2006; figures are revised as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.  (2) Includes knives as well as other sharp instruments.  (3) Includes shooting by crossbows. Excludes cases where firearm was used as a blunt instrument.  (4) Data for 2006-07 are scheduled to be published in late January 2008.  (5) Homicide offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made.  (6) Figures for Lewisham, Brent, Hackney and Southwark cannot be provided as data from the Homicide Index cannot be broken down to borough level.  (7) Homicides recorded by the Metropolitan police service and City of London police.  (8) Figures for Leicester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester cannot be provided as data from the Homicide Index cannot be broken down to city level.

Police: Databases

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what procedures exist to ensure that all police records are updated on people  (a) being held in custody and  (b) wanted for arrest;
	(2)  what procedures exist to ensure that all police forces are aware of updated information on criminals  (a) being held and  (b) wanted for arrest.

Tony McNulty: There are national standards on data entry and quality standards on the Police National Computer (PNC) which are contained in the PNC manual. The manual provides information on those procedures that are applicable for updating PNC records with information regarding individuals detained in custody and wanted for arrest. This is interpreted, and supplemented, by individual police forces' own local procedures. The PNC manual is updated at six-monthly intervals and is made available to all police forces.
	In addition, police forces can, depending on the business need, broadcast a message via PNC to other forces regarding individuals who are either wanted or who have been detained. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary conducts audits of force procedures for compliance with this manual and other Association of Chief Police Officers policy.

Police: Migrants

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what data her Department uses to estimate the numbers of migrants in police authorities in England and Wales;
	(2)  what adjustments are made to the police formula grant for police authorities in  (a) England and  (b) Wales to take account of the numbers of migrants in individual police authority areas.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 12 November 2007
	 When calculating formula grant allocations, we use the best available data that treat all authorities on a consistent basis.
	For population, these are the population estimates and projections produced by the Office for National Statistics. Recent methodological changes have been made to improve the account of the effects of international migration.

Police: Terrorism

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many terrorist operations have been foiled in each year for which records are available.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 12 November 2007
	 : We are unable to provide a breakdown of terrorist operations for each year. However the Security Service and police have disrupted 12 major plots since 2000.

Prisoners: Compensation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid to foreign prisoners in compensation for unlawful detention in custody beyond the end of their sentences in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not available centrally and can be collected only at disproportionate cost.
	The chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 19 February and provided an update on the issue of compensation payments to foreign national prisoners who had been detained unlawfully. A copy of this letter is available from the Library of the House.

Prisoners: Deportation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national prisoners are subject to deportation notices.

Liam Byrne: The chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency has written regularly to the Home Affairs Committee over the past 18 months providing the most robust and accurate data relating to foreign national prisoners. Copies of this correspondence are available from the Library of the House.

Prisoners: Deportation

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to seek the deportation of foreign prisoners from the date of their conviction; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 13 November 2007
	Under the UK Borders Act, the Secretary of State must make a deportation order where a foreign national is imprisoned for 12 months or more or for any length of time for a particularly serious offence. This will bring greater certainty to the deportation process. A foreign criminal will know from the point of conviction that they will face deportation, save where one of the five exceptions specified in the Act applies.

Research, Information and Communications Unit

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Research, Information and Communications Unit was instigated; what factors underlay the decision to create this unit; how many officials are employed in the unit; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 10 December 2007
	The creation of a Research, Information and Communication Unit (RICU) was announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in March 2007, alongside the creation of the Office of Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT), as part of wider machinery of Government changes. RICU is a cross-Government resource, based in the Home Office, reporting to my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary, the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and staffed from a wide range of Government Departments.
	The decision to create this Unit was taken to address the need for coherent and effective communications across Government in countering terrorism—in particular to support the strategy of tackling violent extremism locally, nationally and internationally.
	A small team is being established, which as at 7 December employs 13 officials. We are in the process of expanding that capacity.

Security Guards: Licensing

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will list all those private security firms accredited by the Security Industry Authority which carry out security services for Government Departments and non-departmental government bodies which are known to have employed people not entitled to work in the UK.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 19 November 2007
	This information is not available. The Security Industry Authority licences individuals rather than companies.
	Security firms are not required to be approved or accredited by the SIA. The SIA manages a voluntary approved contractor scheme (ACS) which provides a framework for setting, improving and monitoring the standards of business management and organisation among companies that provide private security services. As at 12 November, 404 companies, employing close to 100,000 individuals, had been granted approval under the ACS.
	As the Home Secretary announced to Parliament on 13 November, work is under way on retrospective right to work checks on the estimated 40,000 non-EEA nationals who were granted licences before 2 July 2007. The Home Secretary will report again to Parliament in December when this work is complete.

Security Guards: Licensing

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the process is by which the Security Industry Authority (SIA) investigates a person for grant of a licence to work in the security industry; and what methods are used by the SIA to check  (a) EU,  (b) British and  (c) other applicants' (i) identity and (ii) criminal background.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the criteria which the Security Industry Authority (SIA) apply in determining whether to grant a licence, and on other aspects of the licensing process, is contained in the SIA's booklet "Get Licensed". The booklet includes guidance on the activities for which a licence is required, the qualifications required and the checks which the SIA make. The SIA's booklet "SIA Licence Application Form Guidance Notes", gives further details of the information which the SIA require to process an application. Both documents are available on the SIA website at:
	http://www.the-sia.org.uk/home/about_sia/publications/publications_licensing.htm

Security Guards: Licensing

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the functions of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) are; and what the purpose is of the licences that the SIA issues.

Vernon Coaker: The functions of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) are set out in section 1 of the Private Security Industry Act (PSIA) 2001.
	The SIA issues licences to individuals who engage in any licensable conduct so defined under schedule 2 of the PSIA 2001. This compulsory licensing helps ensure that those working within the industry are fit and proper persons who have received adequate vocational training for the role they perform. It is a criminal offence to engage in licensable conduct without a licence.

Security Guards: Licensing

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants for a Security Industry Authority licence since 1 October have been refused one as a result of being found not to have the right to work in the UK.

Vernon Coaker: It is the legal duty of all employers to ensure that those they employ are entitled to work in the UK. However, while under no legal obligation to do so, since 2 July the SIA has carried out full right to work checks on all applications for SIA licences.
	The SIA publishes a weekly update of its licensing statistics which include the type and number of licences refused. This is available on the SIA's website at:
	http://www.the-sia.org.uk/home/licensing/stats_2.htm
	As the Home Secretary announced to Parliament on 13 November, work is under way on retrospective right to work checks on the estimated 40,000 non-EEA nationals who were granted licences before 2 July 2007. The Home Secretary will report again to Parliament when this work is complete.

Security Guards: Licensing

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licence applications to the Security Industry Association were turned down in each year since 2004.

Vernon Coaker: The numbers of licence applications refused by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) in the financial years 2004-05 to 2007-08 are set out in the following table.
	The figure for 2007-08 is for the year to date.
	
		
			  Financial year  Licence applications refused 
			 2004-05 1,067 
			 2005-06 2,378 
			 2006-07 3,422 
			 2007-08(1) 2,815 
			 (1) Up to 16 November.

Sick Leave: Dismissal

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in her Department  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: Staff with a poor sickness absence record are managed under Attendance Management policies operated within Home Office Headquarters, the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA), the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). The number of attendance management warnings and dismissals recorded on central information systems held by Home Office HQ, BIA and CRB for the calendar years 2005, 2006 and 2007 (to 31 October 2007) are in the table.
	Central records were not held prior to 2005 within Home Office HQ or BIA and data could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The table does not include attendance management warnings issued by the Criminal Records Bureau or the Identity and Passport Service.
	The Criminal Records Bureau does not hold this information centrally and it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Fewer than five members of CRB staff were dismissed under the Attendance Management policy in 2003 and 2004. Further information about those cases is withheld on grounds of confidentiality.
	Attendance issues within the Identity and Passport Service are managed using its Managing Attendance policy which has due regard for individuals with disabilities. Employment can be terminated by medical retirement or capability dismissal with or without compensation.
	Seven staff were dismissed from the Identity and Passport Service in 2005-06 and 13 staff were dismissed in 2006-07 on grounds of inefficiency linked to a poor attendance record. Previous years' information is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Total 
			  2005  
			 Dismissal 5 
			 Final formal warning 10 
			 First formal warning 63 
			 Grand total 78 
			   
			  2006  
			 Dismissal 26 
			 Final formal warning 46 
			 First formal warning 197 
			 Grand total 269 
			   
			  2007 (to 30 October 2007)  
			 Dismissal final 29 
			 Formal warning first 41 
			 Formal warning 202 
			 Grand total 272

Terrorism: Detainees

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the risks of premature charging of suspects in terrorism cases due to the impending expiry of the 28 day limit on detention without charge; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: There is no evidence to suggest that premature charging of suspects in terrorism cases occurs. Crown prosecutors are responsible for deciding whether a person should be charged with a criminal offence, and if so, what that offence should be. They make these decisions in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the Director's Guidance on Charging. The code sets out the general principles Crown prosecutors should follow when they make decisions on cases. In cases where it is proposed to keep the suspect in custody after charge, but the evidence required to apply the Full Code Test is not yet available, the Threshold test can be used. This test is frequently used in terrorism cases and a charge is brought at the earliest opportunity. It is already possible to make a judicial challenge to unlawful detention through the use of habeas corpus proceedings. No such challenge has been made in terrorism cases.

Terrorism: Expenditure

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on counter-terrorism measures by her Department in 2006; and if she will provide a breakdown of this spending by main category of expenditure.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office 2007 departmental report, published in July 2007, details spending on counter terrorism and intelligence for the period 2005-06. It also provides an estimated outturn for the period 2006-07, which we expect to report against in the 2008 departmental report.
	The 2007 departmental report can be found on the Home Office website at the following address:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/ho-annual-report-07?version=1

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many alcohol-related emergency admissions to hospitals in Wirral West constituency there have been since 1997.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the numbers of patients admitted to hospital for alcohol related conditions at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
	
		
			   Finished admission episodes 
			 2005-06 2,686 
			 2004-05 2,484 
			 2003-04 2,131 
			 2002-03 1,781 
			 2001-02 1,809 
			 2000-01 1,148 
			 1999-2000 1,179 
			 1998-99 1,033 
			 1997-98 1,051 
			  Notes:  1. The table shows finished admission episodes for patients admitted to hospital as an emergency with a primary or secondary diagnosis of any of the following diagnoses, for Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust only: Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol; Alcoholic liver disease; and Toxic effect of alcohol.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics

Ambulance Services: Hampshire

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what average ambulance response times were in each primary care trust area in Hampshire in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: This information requested is not held centrally.

Ambulance Services: Pay

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on planned changes to the pay scales of ambulance drivers.

Ann Keen: Following resolution of the 2007-08 pay dispute, the pay scales for ambulance drivers and all other non medical national health service staff on "Agenda for Change" contracts have been revised. The NHS Employers organisation issued "Pay Circular (Agenda for Change) 4/2007" on 17 October to reflect the agreed pay uplift for 2007-08. This information has been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.nhsemployers.org/restricted/downloads/download.asp?ref=3027&hash=8f331fb4e855b06293989d4ae2c4b3ba&itemplate=e_pay_conditions_3col_payrates_pay-conditions-217

Arthritis

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Southend West of 20 October 2003,  Official Report, column 470W, on rheumatoid arthritis, what his latest estimate is of the number of people that anti-TNF drugs help; and what the evidential basis for this figure is;
	(2)  what plans he has to introduce a national strategy for the care and treatment of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Ann Keen: There are no plans to introduce a national strategy for rheumatoid arthritis.
	The technology appraisal guidance, "Guidance on the use of etanercept and infliximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis", published in March 2002 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, estimated that approximately 15,000 people in England and Wales would initially be eligible for anti-TNF treatment. Using an incidence of 0.5 per thousand population, an additional 950 people were estimated to become eligible for this treatment each year.
	This estimate was based on a prevalence for rheumatoid arthritis of eight per thousand population, and information derived from the Norfolk Arthritis Register, a large database of all cases of arthritis recorded in Norfolk.
	We are not aware of any revised estimate having been made for the number of people with rheumatoid arthritis who would benefit from this treatment.

Arthritis

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many new cases of rheumatoid arthritis were diagnosed in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of people in England diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in each  (a) strategic health authority area and  (b) primary care trust area in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the total cost to  (a) the NHS and  (b) social services of rheumatoid arthritis in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of newly diagnosed cases of rheumatoid arthritis is not collected.
	We have made no estimate of the number of people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis within each strategic health authority or primary care trust area.
	We have made no estimate of the cost of rheumatoid arthritis to the national health service and social services.

Atkinson Morley Hospital

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 232W, on Atkinson Morley Hospital, in which years the expenditure referred to was incurred; and if he will break down the total given down by main budget heading for each such year.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 December 2007
	London strategic health authority has advised that over the period 2002-03 to 2006-07, records from St. George's Health Care NHS Trust shows the trust incurred a total expenditure on the sale of the Atkinson Morley hospital site of £1.598 million. This total is after deducting the contribution of £165,000 from the St. George's hospital charity for the fees applicable to their property, the Firs.
	The following table from the trust shows a breakdown of the costs incurred for the disposal of the Atkinson Morley hospital site.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Budget heading  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  Total 
			 Planning 34 233 90 79 1 437 
			 Legal 33 324 17 46 6 426 
			 Design 80 89 108 11 0 288 
			 Estate Agents 0 0 0 122 0 122 
			 Ecological services 25 49 22 21 0 117 
			 Engineering services 8 36 34 22 0 100 
			 Property advisers 33 0 4 9 2 48 
			 Communications 0 5 19 10 0 34 
			 Project management 0 5 12 13 0 30 
			 Other, miscellaneous 16 26 103 15 0 160 
			 SGHC contribution re: Firs 0 0 -79 -85 0 -164 
			 Total 229 767 330 263 9 1,598

Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that the number of nurses per 100 beds in Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust matches the national average;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that the number of doctors per 100 beds in Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust matches the national average for other trusts.

Ann Keen: It is the responsibility of individual national health service organisations to ensure that adequate levels of staff are available to ensure that patient safety is not compromised. The following table shows the number of NHS staff in England and the Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital NHS Trust in each specified group per 11 'total available beds(1)' as at 30 September 2006(2) (which is the latest data available).
	(1) The 'total available beds' figure is the average daily number of open and staffed beds on wards open overnight in NHS hospitals in England. Beds in wards that are closed temporarily for refurbishment or cleaning would not be included. Cots on maternity wards for 'well babies' are not included in the figures. Figures are submitted annually on form KH03 by each NHS trust and provide a summary across all hospital sites within the trust.
	(2) Staff in post figures are as at 30 September. Figures are calculated against headcount.
	
		
			   Medical and dental staff  Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 
			 England 56 47 
			
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 54 57 
			  Source: The information centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census Department of Health KH03.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust: Infectious Diseases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of  (a) MRSA and  (b) clostridium difficile have been recorded in Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust since 1997.

Ann Keen: The information is not collected in the format requested.
	Data on methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and  clostridium difficile (C.difficile) is only available from 2001, and can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals MRSA bacteraemia reports (annual) 
			  April to March each year  Number 
			 2001-02 92 
			 2002-03 77 
			 2003-04 116 
			 2004-05 98 
			 2005-06 69 
			 2006-07 71 
		
	
	The best available data on the number of reports of  C.difficile infections are for patients aged 65 and over and come from the mandatory surveillance scheme run by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) since 2004.
	
		
			  Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals  C.difficile reports  (annual) —Patients aged = 65 years 
			   Number 
			  January to December  
			 2004 648 
			 2005 927 
			 2006 622 
			  Note:  The data shown in the tables are provisional. The HPA states that the tables contain data received prior to the final submission deadline. Late submissions of data corrections are incorporated in later publications.   Source:  HPA

Broadmoor Hospital: Complaints

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many official complaints were made by patients of Broadmoor hospital to West London Mental Health Trust in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested can be found in the following table. Please note that the information requested is only available from 2001.
	
		
			  Written complaints about hospital and community services in West London Mental Health NHS Trust( 1) , England, 2001-02 to 2006-07 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 England 93,020 91,023 90,122 90,413 95,047 90,801 
			  O f which:   
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust RKL 264 242 231 279 261 297 
			 (1) In 2001 Broadmoor Hospital Authority merged with Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham Mental Health NHS Trust to form the West London Mental Health NHS Trust. It is impossible to separate hospital level data from the census figures   Note:  Data as at 1 April to 31 March each year.   Source:  The Information Centre, dataset KO41a

Broadmoor Hospital: Foreigners

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foreign nationals are held in Broadmoor Hospital.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Broadmoor Hospital: Manpower

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many clinical staff were employed at Broadmoor hospital in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many non-clinical staff were employed at Broadmoor hospital in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The information is not available in the format requested. However, data in relation to the number of clinical and non-clinical staff at West London Mental Health National Health Service Trust, which includes Broadmoor hospital can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: NHS staff in the West London Mental Health NHS Trust main staff group as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Headcount 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006( 1) 
			 All staff 3,180 3,783 3,924 4,240 4,157 4,135 
			
			 Professionally qualified clinical staff 1,584 1,950 2,012 2,137 2,127 2,148 
			 Medical and dental staff 181 201 208 236 242 252 
			
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 1,080 1,354 1,348 1,438 1,431 1,451 
			
			  Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 323 395 456 463 454 445 
			 Qualified allied health professions 87 118 123 165 136 124 
			 Qualified healthcare scientists n/a n/a 1 2 3 2 
			 Other qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 236 277 332 296 315 319 
			
			  Support to clinical staff 984 1,177 1,199 1,327 1,316 1,238 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 976 1,166 1,190 1,294 1,282 1,208 
			 Support to ST and T staff 8 11 9 33 34 30 
			
			  NHS infrastructure support 612 656 713 776 714 749 
			 Central functions 222 240 245 275 252 304 
			 Hotel, property and estates 318 315 334 344 330 347 
			 Managers and senior managers 72 101 134 157 132 98 
			 n/a = not applicable. The numbers of healthcare scientists were not separately identifiable until 2003. (1) More accurate validation processes in 2006 have resulted in the identification and removal of 9,858 duplicate non-medical staff records out of the total work force figure of 1.3 million in 2006. Earlier years' figures could not be accurately validated in this way and so will be slightly inflated. The level of inflation in earlier years' figures is estimated to be less than 1 per cent. of total across all non-medical staff groups for headcount figures (and negligible for full time equivalents). This should be taken into consideration when analysing trends over time.  Note: In 2001 Broadmoor Hospital Authority merged with Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham Mental Health NHS Trust to form the West London Mental Health NHS Trust. It is impossible to separate hospital level data from the census figures.  Sources: The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census

Broadmoor Hospital: Vacancies

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinical staff vacancies were unfilled at Broadmoor hospital in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally.

Broadmoor Hospital: Vacancies

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many clinical staff vacancies at Broadmoor Hospital were advertised in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many non-clinical staff vacancies at Broadmoor Hospital were advertised in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: Information on clinical staff vacancies advertised at Broadmoor Hospital is not held in the format requested. The following table shows national health service three month vacancies for NHS staff in West London Mental Health Trust by main staff group. Data are only available from 2002.
	
		
			  The Information Centre for health and social care: NHS three month vacancies for NHS staff in the West London Mental Health NHS Trust( 1)  by main staff group—three month vacancy rates and numbers as at 31 March each specified year 
			   All doctors (excluding doctors in training)  Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff  Unqualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 
			   Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number 
			 2007 0.0 0 0.1 2 0.5 4 
			 2006 8.8 11 4.4 59 2.6 23 
			 2005 5.6 7 5.4 73 4.2 40 
			 2004 8.8 11 3.8 46 5.6 40 
			 2003 6.9 8 11.3 146 14.0 107 
			 2002 2.5 2 5.8 61 6.3 43 
		
	
	
		
			   All scientific ,  therapeutic and technical staff  Of which: Qualified Allied Health Professionals  Other qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff  Unqualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff  Other non-medical staff 
			   Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number  Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number 
			 2007 2.1 9 0.0 0 3.1 9 0.0 0 0.5 5 
			 2006 6.5 29 13.3 18 1.4 4 24.6 7 4.0 40 
			 2005 9.6 44 18.2 32 3.2 8 17.0 4 4.7 48 
			 2004 5.6 24 8.8 10 4.4 15 * — 4.8 47 
			 2003 6.7 28 9.0 10 6.1 17 3.5 1 7.0 66 
			 2002 4.8 14 11.7 10 0.8 2 * 2 1.4 24 
			 * Figures where sum of staff in post (as at 30 September 2005) and vacancies (as at 31 March 2006) is less than 10. (1) In 2001 Broadmoor Hospital Authority merged with Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham Mental Health NHS Trust to form the West London Mental Health NHS Trust. It is impossible to separate hospital level data from the census figures.  Notes: 1. Vacancy data are from the Vacancies Survey March each year. 2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (full time equivalents). 3. Three month Vacancy Rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post. 4. Three month Vacancy Rates are calculated using staff in post from the Non-Medical Workforce Census September each year. 5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. 6. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number. 7. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates. 8. Qualified Allied Health Professional vacancy data include qualified staff from the following occupational groups: chiropody, dietetics, occupational therapy, orthoptics/optics, physiotherapy, diagnostic and therapeutic radiography, art/music/drama therapy and speech and language therapy staff.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care Vacancies Survey. The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Broadmoor Hospital: Vacancies

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-clinical staff vacancies were unfilled at Broadmoor Hospital in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally.

Cancer: Finance

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what mechanisms the additional £370 million expenditure under the NHS Cancer Reform Strategy will be allocated.

Ann Keen: The revenue component of the £370 million will be included in primary care trust allocations. The capital funding for improvements to cancer services is included within the total capital funding available to the national health service. The detail of how this investment will be delivered will be agreed as part of the NHS capital planning process.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department's plans  (a) to extend the 31 day standard to all cancer treatments,  (b) to include all patients with suspected cancer in the 62 day pathway and  (c) to ensure that all patients with breast symptoms seen within two weeks of referral are expected to cost in each year for which estimates have been made.

Ann Keen: An impact assessment was published at the same time as the new Cancer Reform Strategy on 3 December 2007. A breakdown of costs associated with going further on cancer waits are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Estimate for annual costs in £ million 
			  Measure  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11  2011-12  2012-13  2013-14  2014-15  2015-16  2016-17  2017-18 
			 31 day standard for all cancer treatments 2.1 4.3 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 
			 Include all patients with suspected cancer in the 62 day pathway 1.7 3.3 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 
			 2 week referral for all breast problems 2.0 4.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0

Care Homes

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the frequency of inspection of care homes was in each year from 2001-02 to 2006-07; and how many homes failed to meet minimum standards for nutrition and medication in each year.

Ivan Lewis: The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is responsible, under the Care Standards Act 2000 and associated Regulations, for all aspects of regulation and inspection of care homes providing nursing care.
	Up until April 2005, all care and nursing homes were required to be inspected twice yearly. From April 2005, CSCI's inspectors started using new ways of inspecting social care providers, based on the aims set out in the consultation document, "Inspecting for Better Lives". The new inspection methodology is designed to place the people who use social care services and their experiences at the heart of the way CSCI inspects and regulates care services.
	From April 2005, CSCI has carried out key inspections for care and nursing homes at a frequency determined by the quality of the service. A key inspection is a thorough, detailed inspection, under which CSCI will assess all of the key national minimum standards. For example, a 'poor' quality service will receive a minimum of two key inspections a year, an 'adequate' service will receive a minimum of one key inspection a year, a 'good' service will receive a minimum of one key inspection every two years, and an 'excellent' service will receive a key inspection a minimum of once every three years. CSCI also carries out 'random' and 'thematic' inspections, which are short, focused inspections on a specific theme or area.
	The following table shows the percentages of care homes which failed to meet the National Minimum Standards (NMS) on meals and mealtimes and medication in each year from 2002-03. Information is not available for 2001-02; the NMS were introduced in April 2002.
	CSCI inspectors rate homes' performance against each standard and score it on a scale of one to four. Scores of three or four mean the standard has been met. Scores one or two mean the standard has not been met. However, the score of two indicates that the failure is due to a more minor issue.
	
		
			  Percentage of care homes failing to meet selected NMS at 31 March each year—NMS 
			   Meals and mealtimes  Medication 
			  Care homes for younger adults   
			 2002-03 19 54 
			 2003-04 14 43 
			 2004-05 12 38 
			 2005-06 10 33 
			 2006-07 10 32 
			
			  Care homes for older people   
			 2002-03 22 55 
			 2003-04 18 47 
			 2004-05 16 44 
			 2005-06 15 41 
			 2006-07 14 40 
			  Source: CSCI Registration and Inspection database

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the additional cost the NHS will incur to ensure that women in all primary care trusts receive the results of their cervical screening test within two weeks of it being taken.

Ann Keen: We estimate that the annual cost of ensuring that women receive the result of their cervical screening test within two weeks will be £1.1 million per year.

Childbirth

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) midwife-led,  (b) consultant-led and  (c) other maternity units there were in each year since 1997; how many births there were in each type of unit in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Some of the information requested is not available. The latest available data are in the NHS Maternity Statistics 2005-06. Copies of this publication are available in the Library.
	The following table gives details of the numbers of births and the percentages of those births in consultant units, general practitioner (GP) units, units led jointly by consultants, GPs and midwives and midwife or other units since 1997.
	
		
			   Number of births  Consultant units  GP units  Units led jointly by consultants, GPs and midwives  Midwifery/other 
			 1997-98 585,000 65 2 31 2 
			 1998-99 577,500 59 2 38 1 
			 1999-2000 565,300 57 1 40 2 
			 2000-01 549,600 57 2 38 3 
			 2001-02 541,700 55 1 40 4 
			 2002-03 548,000 59 1 37 3 
			 2003-04 575,900 58 2 35 5 
			 2004-05 584,100 54 1 40 5 
			 2005-06 593,400 50 2 42 6 
			  Source :  Hospital Episode Statistics

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that appropriate resources are available for NHS multi-disciplinary services for myalgic encephalopathy and chronic fatigue syndrome following the recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence including on  (a) provision of diagnostic and therapeutic options,  (b) domiciliary services and  (c) relevant training for health care professionals, including GPs.

Ann Keen: It is the responsibility of local health bodies to commission services, funded from their general allocations, to meet the needs of those in their local population living with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis as detailed in the guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he intends to implement to reduce the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Peterborough primary care trust area; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: It is for the local national health service to decide how best to provide services for the local communities they serve.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Alan Johnson) requested that a National Service Framework (NSF) should be developed for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) following recommendations published in the CMO's annual report 2004.
	The development of a NSF for COPD will result in national standards and markers of good practise. It will improve the quality of and access to COPD services, reducing inequalities and reduce healthcare utilisation costs. The NSF will also support the system reform and White Paper agendas, and fits in with recent legislation on the reduction of smoking and new home oxygen service.
	The Department has set up an external reference group to advise on the COPD NSF. It is proposed that the COPD NSF will be published in 2008 with implementation at the start of 2009.

Community Nurses: Manpower

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community matrons were employed by each primary care trust in England in each year since 2003.

Ann Keen: Community matrons were identified separately for the first time in the 2005 annual national health service work force census. The number of community matrons employed by each primary care trust (PCT) and trust since 2005 is shown in the following table.
	Anecdotal evidence suggests there are more community matrons in post than the census suggests. Based on recent discussions with a number of strategic health authorities (SHAs) we believe that the 2006 census is an undercount, with community matrons most likely being recorded in the census within other occupational groups.
	We are committed to increasing the number of community matrons and local development plans strongly suggest this is happening.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: community matrons in England by SHA area and by organisation as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Headcount 
			   2005  2006 
			 England 267 366 
			
			  North East Strategic Health Authority area 27 32 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 2 0 
			 County Durham PCT 0 4 
			 Darlington PCT 1 0 
			 Derwentside PCT 2 0 
			 Gateshead PCT 5 6 
			 Hartlepool PCT 8 0 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 2 0 
			 North Tyneside PCT 1 0 
			 South Tyneside PCT 6 9 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 0 13 
			
			  North West Strategic Health Authority area 36 72 
			 Bury PCT 1 0 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 0 8 
			 Central Cheshire PCT 1 0 
			 Central Liverpool PCT 16 0 
			 Cheshire West PCT 3 0 
			 East Lancashire PCT 0 12 
			 Halton and St Helens PCT 0 12 
			 Liverpool PCT 0 20 
			 Morecambe Bay PCT 2 0 
			 North Lancashire PCT 0 5 
			 Oldham PCT 8 8 
			 Preston PCT 3 0 
			 Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital NHS Trust 1 0 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 1 0 
			 The Mid Cheshire Hospital NHS Trust 0 1 
			 Warrington PCT 0 1 
			 West Cheshire PCT 0 3 
			 Wirral PCT 0 2 
			
			  Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority area 32 70 
			 Airedale PCT 2 0 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 0 6 
			 Bradford City Teaching PCT 2 0 
			 Bradford South and West PCT 5 0 
			 Calderdale PCT 0 10 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 0 2 
			 East Yorkshire PCT 3 0 
			 Eastern Wakefield PCT 2 0 
			 Kirklees PCT 0 5 
			 Leeds PCT 0 30 
			 North Bradford PCT 2 0 
			 North Kirklees PCT 3 0 
			 Rotherham PCT 0 9 
			 Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT 1 0 
			 Sheffield PCT 0 8 
			 South East Sheffield PCT 1 0 
			 Wakefield West PCT 6 0 
			 West Hull PCT 4 0 
			 Yorkshire Wolds and Coast PCT 1 0 
			
			  East Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 43 28 
			 Amber Valley PCT 4 0 
			 Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT 2 0 
			 Central Derby PCT 5 0 
			 Daventry and South Northamptonshire PCT 2 0 
			 Erewash PCT 4 0 
			 Gedling PCT 1 0 
			 Greater Derby PCT 1 0 
			 Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust 1 0 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 0 9 
			 Mansfield District PCT 1 0 
			 Newark and Sherwood PCT 4 0 
			 Northampton PCT 5 0 
			 Nottingham City PCT 4 7 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 0 12 
			 Rushcliffe PCT 4 0 
			 South Leicestershire PCT 1 0 
			 West Lincolnshire PCT 4 0 
			
			  West Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 29 31 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 5 7 
			 Eastern Birmingham PCT 9 0 
			 North Birmingham PCT 4 0 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 0 3 
			 Rugby PCT 2 0 
			 Solihull Care Trust 0 7 
			 Solihull PCT 4 0 
			 South Stoke PCT 2 0 
			 South Warwickshire PCT 2 0 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands PCT 1 0 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 0 12 
			 Warwickshire PCT 0 2 
			
			  East of England Strategic Health Authority area 15 31 
			 Basildon PCT 3 0 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 0 2 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 0 2 
			 Colchester PCT 9 0 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney Teaching PCT 0 3 
			 Harlow PCT 1 0 
			 Mid Essex PCT 0 7 
			 Norfolk PCT 0 1 
			 North East Essex PCT 0 5 
			 South East Essex PCT 0 4 
			 South West Essex Teaching PCT 0 5 
			 Southend on Sea PCT 2 0 
			 Suffolk PCT 0 2 
			
			  London Strategic Health Authority area 5 35 
			 Enfield PCT 3 10 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 0 1 
			 Havering PCT 0 6 
			 Hounslow PCT 0 3 
			 Islington PCT 0 2 
			 Lambeth PCT 0 6 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 1 0 
			 Wandsworth PCT 0 3 
			 Westminster PCT 1 4 
			
			  South East Coast Strategic Health Authority area 37 0 
			 East Kent Coastal PCT 1 0 
			 Eastbourne Downs POT 3 0 
			 Guildford and Waverley PCT 3 0 
			 Mid Sussex PCT 3 0 
			 South Downs Health NHS Trust 25 0 
			 Swale PCT 2 0 
			
			  South Central Strategic Health Authority area 10 12 
			 Berkshire East Teaching PCT 0 4 
			 Berkshire West PCT 0 7 
			 Chiltern and South Bucks PCT 2 0 
			 Isle Of Wight PCT 2 0 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 2 1 
			 Slough PCT 2 0 
			 Wokingham PCT 2 0 
			
			  South West Strategic Health Authority area 33 55 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 0 1 
			 Bournemouth Teaching PCT 4 0 
			 Bristol North PCT 4 0 
			 Bristol Teaching PCT 0 26 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 0 13 
			 Dorset PCT 0 5 
			 Mid Devon PCT 3 0 
			 North Somerset PCT 1 0 
			 Poole PCT 9 0 
			 Somerset Coast PCT 1 0 
			 Somerset PCT 0 1 
			 South and East Dorset PCT 4 0 
			 South Somerset PCT 3 0 
			 Swindon PCT 0 5 
			 Torbay Care Trust 0 2 
			 West of Cornwall PCT 4 0 
			 Wiltshire PCT 0 2 
			  Notes: 1. Data are presented for all NHS organisations. On 1 October 2006 PCTs were restructured and 2006 data are presented for the new organisations. 2. In 2006 a separate code was introduced for community matrons (NEH) to differentiate between modern matrons (managing staff working in the community, (coded as NCH) and community matrons who deal with patients. 3. No returns were made from the South East Coast SHA under the new code (NEH), but there were 59 returns for the old code NCH.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce census.

Dental Services

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists offer  (a) only private practice treatment and  (b) NHS treatment in each primary care trust in England.

Ann Keen: The National Health Service Business Services Authority Dental Services Division (NHSBSADSD) does not capture data about private dentists or their activity.
	The numbers of NHS dentists at primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) level as at 30 June, 30 September, 31 December 2006 and 31 March 2007 are available in Table El of Annex 3 of the "NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07 report". This information is based on the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006.
	This report is available in the Library at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607
	The inclusion of dentists on trust led contracts in the data collection following the 2006 reforms means that data collected since April 2006 cannot be directly compared with data collected under the previous system.
	The numbers quoted are headcounts and do not differentiate between full and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.
	The methodology and frequency for reporting workforce information are being reviewed. The purpose of the review is to ensure that, following experience of the first year of the new dental contract, figures provide an appropriate measure of the workforce, given the way that the workforce reporting system is being used by PCTs. An update on the review will be provided in the "NHS Dentals Statistics for England, Quarter 2, 30 September 2007" publication, which is due to be published in February 2008.

Dental Services: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS dentists in Bexley  (a) admitted new adult patients to their list and  (b) treated NHS patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many  (a) 18 to 65 and  (b) under 18 year olds were registered for NHS dental treatment in Bexley in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: This information is not available in the format requested. Information on national health service dentists who admitted new patients to their list is not collected centrally.
	Under the old contractual arrangements which were in place until 2006, patients had to register with an individual dentist.
	The number of patients registered with an NHS dentist at primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) area are available in annex A of the "NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006". Information is available annually as at 31 March 1997 to 2006 and is broken down by children (aged 17 and under) and adults (aged 18 and over).
	This report is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	Under the new contractual arrangements, patients do not have to be registered with a dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services ('patients seen') in a given area over a 24-month period, for that area. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	The number of patients seen by an NHS dentist in the 24-month period ending 31 March 2006 and 31 March 2007 is available in table C1 of annex 3 of the "NHS Dental Statistics for England 2006-07" report. Information is available at PCT and SHA area and is broken down by children (aged 17 and under) and adults (aged 18 and over).
	This report is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607

Dental Services: Finance

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS dentists in England face clawbacks of funding under the April 2006 dental contracts for the financial year 2006-07 who work in dental practices established  (a) prior to and  (b) after April 2006;
	(2)  how many NHS dentists in England face clawbacks of funding under the April 2006 dental contract for the financial year 2006-07.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally. It is the responsibility of individual primary care trusts to decide how such situations should be handled within the regulations governing dental contracts.

Dental Services: Greater Manchester

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in  (a) Manchester and  (b) Manchester Withington constituency have had an appointment with an NHS dentist since the introduction of the new dental contract.

Ann Keen: Under the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, information is available on the number of patients receiving national health service dental services ('patients seen') in a given area over a 24-month period.
	The numbers of patients seen by an NHS dentist in the 24-month periods ending 31 March 2006 and 31 March 2007 are available in Table C1 of Annex 3 of the "NHS Dental Statistics for England 2006-07" report. Information is available at primary care trust and strategic health authority area in England, but not at constituency level.
	This report is available in the Library and is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607

Dental Services: Waiting Lists

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for orthodontic treatment on the NHS was in each of the last five years, broken down by primary care trust.

Ann Keen: Information is not collected centrally on waiting times for national health service orthodontic treatment provided in primary care.
	Information is available on average hospital waiting times from referral to first out-patient appointment from decision to admit to hospital admission (day case and in-patient). This information is provided, broken down by primary care trust, a copy has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Equality

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome was of the Commission for Racial Equality's investigation into the Department of Health's discharge of its duty to promote race equality launched in 2007.

Ivan Lewis: The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) published a report on its investigation into the Department on 27 September 2007. The report is available on the website of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (which took over CRE's responsibilities on 1 October 2007) at:
	www.equalityhumanrights.com/Documents/Race/Formal%20investigations/department_of_health_fi.pdf.
	The report outlines the CRE's findings and recommendations. Of the nine recommendations, one was that CRE should issue a compliance notice to the Department, which it did on 28 September. The Department is discussing with the Equality and Human Rights Commission the action required by the compliance notice. A copy of actions the Department is taking to fulfil the other recommendations has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of each document prepared for each of his Department's citizens' juries.

Ann Keen: The Department does not keep a central record of all of the Department's citizens' juries. However, there have been two citizens' summits of note which the Department has run. From these two events, three relevant documents will be placed in the Library.
	The first event supported the "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say" White Paper in 2006. From this citizen's summit, two documents will now be placed in the Library. These are "Your Health, Your Care, Your Say: Improving Community Health and Care Services, Citizen's Guide", which was the input guide to the event, and "Your Health, Your Care, Your Say: Report of Citizens' Summit, Birmingham , 29 October 2005", which is the write up of the day.
	The second was on the 18 September 2007, as part of the Next Stage Review being led by Lord Darzi. A copy of the results from this event, "Our NHS, Our Future: 18 September 2007 Nationwide Consultative Event, Key findings" has been placed in the Library.

Dermatology: Consultants

Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant dermatology posts were created in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The following table shows the increase in headcount of medical consultants within the dermatology specialty over the past five years.
	
		
			  Hospital and Community Health Services: medical consultants within the dermatology specialty: England at 30 September each year 
			  Number (headcount) 
			   Consultant 
			 2002 392 
			 2003 415 
			 2004 440 
			 2005 450 
			 2006 454 
			  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census

Deviance and Behaviour Disorders: Drugs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions were made for children aged  (a) under 16 and  (b) 16 to 18 years in full time education for (i) antidepressants, (ii) stimulants and (iii) drugs for (A) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and (B) psychoses and related disorders in each year since 1990-91; at what cost in each year to the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not available on the number of prescriptions that were made to children. However, data are available on the number of items that were dispensed and the net ingredient cost (NIC) of those drugs dispensed.
	Antidepressant drugs are classified under British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.3, Antidepressant Drugs.
	
		
			  BNF4.3 
			   Children under 16  Children 16 to 18 in full- time education 
			  Financial year  Items  Cost (£)  Items  Cost (£) 
			 1995-96 67,543 459,884.04 67,986 935,075.22 
			 1996-97 78,353 702,036.40 92,569 1,417,850.30 
			 1997-98 86,796 823,456.80 109,862 1,813,982.82 
			 1998-99 83,070 901,715.02 108,846 1,947,731.55 
			 1999-2000 86,152 981,388.21 104,256 1,857,085.41 
			 2000-01 99,299 1,101,610.19 119,645 1,764,943.88 
			 2001-02 112,914 1,372,384.83 130,887 2,021,790.31 
			 2002-03 119,566 1,525,442.38 144,331 2,173,657.42 
			 2003-04 104,733 1,277,947.31 144,607 2,054,711.53 
			 2004-05 94,905 1,075,388.52 122,246 1,387,279.48 
			 2005-06 107,965 1,146,799.02 107,268 974,961.47 
			 2006-07 109,535 1,001,661.29 103,023 699,882.64 
		
	
	 Stimulants and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
	These drugs are classified under BNF section 4.4, Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulants and drugs used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is not possible to separate out whether the drug was dispensed as a stimulant or for ADHD.
	
		
			  BNF 4.4 
			   Children under 16  Children 16 to 18 in full time education 
			  Financial year  Items  Cos t  (£)t  Items  Cost (£) 
			 1995-96 15,908 256,368.58 645 16,108.82 
			 1996-97 48,264 796,117.35 2,058 35,066.12 
			 1997-98 86,247 1,511,057.64 3,388 67,958.63 
			 1998-99 112,294 2,046,189.54 4,596 111,110.67 
			 1999-2000 144,894 2,731,785.40 7,698 170,815.54 
			 2000-01 171,244 3,285,406.51 7,873 178,681.81 
			 2001-02 200,202 3,954,689.84 9,225 263,480.31 
			 2002-03 247,115 6,664,367.80 11,935 404,542.57 
			 2003-04 289,009 9,221,611.44 17,218 657,764.46 
			 2004-05 338,909 12,538,463.29 24,906 1,101,195.20 
			 2005-06 379,334 15,799,142.35 31,694 1,477,481.24 
			 2006-07 454,797 19,162,444.70 40,339 2,012,486.47 
		
	
	 Psychoses and related disorders
	These drugs are classified under BNF section 4.2, Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders.
	
		
			  BNF 4.2 
			   Children under 16  Children 16 to 18 in full- time education 
			  Financial year  Items  Cost (£)  Items  Cost (£) 
			 1995-96 14,493 103,421.46 18,536 99,265.69 
			 1996-97 19,466 169,588.96 25,038 219,395.03 
			 1997-98 21,368 221,984.44 27,807 335,314.80 
			 1998-99 22,666 328,614.92 22,484 410,207.72 
			 1999-2000 22,494 413,894.14 18,242 418,898.89 
			 2000-01 26,187 634,029.84 19,338 609,087.98 
			 2001-02 27,299 822,343.50 18,332 712,660.70 
			 2002-03 35,089 1,224,728.85 19,666 886,386.37 
			 2003-04 38,687 1,332,755.23 23,695 1,048,668.01 
			 2004-05 47,340 1,754,505.70 27,502 1,316,821.64 
			 2005-06 59,834 2,093,995.82 26,002 1,150,404.62 
			 2006-07 66,961 2,417,003.67 29,954 1,305,311.91 
			  Notes: 1. Prescription Cost Analysis Data: Prescription information is taken from the PCA system, supplied by the Prescription Pricing Division of the Business Services Authority, and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions. 2. Prescription Items: Prescriptions are written on a prescription form. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item. 3. Net Ingredient Cost (NIC): NIC is the basic cost of a drug. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income. 4. Exemption Category Estimates: The exemption data are identified from the box ticked on the back of the prescription form and relies on the form being completed correctly which may not always be the case. Information for categories that are not required to pay a charge (e.g. children) is based on a one in 20 sample of all exempt prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors. The information we have is therefore an estimate and subject to sampling errors.

Diabetes

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with  (a) type 1 and  (b) type 2 diabetes in (i) Warrington, (ii) Cheshire, (iii) the North West and (iv) England in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The following table shows the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in Warrington, Cheshire, the North West and England in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07. These are the years for which figures are available. Figures are not available for type 1 and type 2 diabetes separately.
	
		
			   Health authority  Diabetes list size 
			  2004-05   
			 PCT Central Cheshire 9,420 
			  Eastern Cheshire 6,340 
			  Cheshire West 4,892 
			  Ellesmere Port and Neston 2,973 
			  Warrington 6,573 
			
			 SHA Cheshire and Merseyside 85,639 
			  Cumbria and Lancashire 70,346 
			  Greater Manchester 94,291 
			
			 England England 1,766,391 
			
			  2005-06   
			 PCT Central Cheshire 9,982 
			  Eastern Cheshire 6,695 
			  Cheshire West 5,274 
			  Ellesmere Port and Neston 3,200 
			  Warrington 7,339 
			
			 SHA Cheshire and Merseyside 92,180 
			  Cumbria and Lancashire 74,534 
			  Greater Manchester 100,878 
			
			 England England 1,890,663 
			
			  2006-07   
			 PCT Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 17,437 
			  Warrington PCT 7,796 
			  Western Cheshire PCT 8,985 
			
			 SHA North West Strategic Health Authority 279,253 
			
			 England England 1,961,976 
			  Notes: 1. Diabetes prevalence The disease register in QOF for diabetes does not include any patient below the age of 17 and so the total disease register may be slightly lower than expected. 2. Primary care trust and strategic health authority boundaries There is no primary care trust (PCT) known as Cheshire in the current PCT list. Information is therefore provided on the PCTs most closely aligned with this area: Central and Eastern Cheshire and Western Cheshire. In October 2006, there was PCT restructure. For the QOF years 2004-05 and 2005-06, information is provided on the old PCTs that made up the new ones when the restructure occurred. Central Cheshire and Eastern Cheshire became Central and Eastern Cheshire, and Cheshire West and Ellesmere Port and Neston became Western Cheshire. In July 2006, Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) were restructured. Information is provided for 2004-05 and 2005-06 on the old SHAs that became the new North West SHA. Cheshire and Merseyside, Cumbria and Lancashire and Greater Manchester SHAs became the North West SHA. 3. Coverage of QOF Patients will only contribute to the figures in QOF if they are registered with a general practice participating in QOF. Not all practices participate in QOF and some participate in only some parts (especially primary medical services practices who are paid under different arrangements for providing services which are part of QOF for general medical services practices).  Source: Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) data published by the Information Centre for health and social Care. 2004-05 is the first year of data from this source.

Doctors: Career Structure

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applicants to the inter-deanery job transfer scheme there have been to date; and how many applications have been successful.

Ann Keen: A total of 593 applications was received from doctors wishing to transfer. There were 61 applicants identified as matches for possible transfers. Three transfers took place involving five doctors and two general practitioners.

Doctors: Career Structure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 996W, on doctors: training, how many registrar group doctors he expects will apply for the 8,000 advertised training places, broken down into  (a) UK nationals,  (b) other EEA nationals and  (c) non-EEA nationals.

Ann Keen: Our working assumption is that the competition ratio for 2008 will be up to 3:1, higher than this year, and that half of all applicants will be from outside the European economic area.
	We are working with Deaneries to ensure there are appropriate processes in place to handle large numbers of applications.
	We would encourage applicants to consider carefully which parts of the country they apply to and for which specialties, as the competition ratios for some areas and some specialties are considerably higher than others.

Doctors: Housing

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which legislation  (a) established and  (b) removed the statutory responsibility of NHS trusts to provide accommodation for junior doctors.

Ann Keen: The Medical Act 1983 established the requirement for a doctor with provisional registration to be resident in the hospital or institution where he/she is employed and that this requirement is in the terms of his/her employment (section 11(3)). Further provisions were made by the Medical Act 1983 Regulations 2005.
	Sections 10-13 of the Medical Act 1983 were repealed by the Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006.

English Language

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) his Department and  (b) NHS trusts spent on English language classes for staff in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.
	All national health service trusts should ensure that they have rigorous and effective recruitment processes in place to ensure that those they employ have the necessary communication and language skills.

General Practitioners: Training

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners in each  (a) Government region and  (b) primary care trust area were invited by their primary care trust to attend courses to update their or their practice's skills in the last 18 months; and if he will make a statement.

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collects on the employment of people who have studied  (a) midwifery and  (b) other healthcare-related subjects post-qualification.

Ann Keen: These data are not collected centrally.
	Post-registration training needs for national health service staff are determined against local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by local delivery plans and the needs of the service.
	Access to training is affected by a number of factors such as the availability of funding, whether staff can be released, the availability of appropriate training interventions, mentors and assessors. It would not be practical for the centre to be prescriptive on this.

Health Services: Information Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health representatives of which private sector providers of healthcare the Information Centre for Health and Social Care has included on its stakeholder and reference groups, as stated on the Our Priorities for 2007-08 section of its website; what progress the Information Centre has made in extending  (a) support and  (b) guidance to private sector providers; and what steps the Information Centre has taken in support of its aim to align information collected across the NHS and private sectors.

Ben Bradshaw: The Information Centre for health and social care (IC) works with the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services and NHS Partners Network, which represent a large number of independent sector providers. The IC also includes the following independent sector providers on its Reference Group for discussing data collection: Spire Healthcare, Nuffield Hospitals, Horder Centre, Care UK, Capio, General Healthcare Group/Netcare UK, Benenden Hospital and BMI Healthcare.
	The IC supports the independent sector through its website, which includes guidance on information gathering, data, publications, and training. The IC publicises this material through its various stakeholder groups.
	The IC has established a Working Group with the independent sector to improve the alignment of information across the national health service and independent sectors. The group is focusing particularly on alignment of information on mental health, healthcare associated infections, serious untoward incidents and patient experience.

Heart Diseases

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department gives general practitioners and accident and emergency departments on recognising the different symptoms of heart attacks demonstrated by men and women.

Ann Keen: As women continue to live longer than men, more of them are presenting with heart disease. It is important that health services recognise this, and ensure that men and women alike receive treatment in line with best practice.
	The National Service Framework (NSF) for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), published in 2000, sets out national standards for treatment of CHD. The NSF includes information about the way in which rates of CHD vary according to social circumstances, gender and ethnicity. One of the objectives in publishing the NSF was to bring these variations to the attention of the health service in order to reduce undesirable variations and inconsistencies in service delivery and access, and to improve the overall quality of care for CHD.

Heart Disease: Transplant Surgery

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations have been received by  (a) the National Commissioning Group and  (b) other competent bodies on assessing the potential use of beating heart transplant technology in transplant units; what the outcomes have been of assessments undertaken by those bodies; what the reasons are for decisions that may have been reached; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The National Commissioning Group has received no representation on assessing the potential use of beating heart technology but is aware that both Papworth and Harefield hospitals participated in a European study of the organ care system; the results of which have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Heart Disease: Transplant Surgery

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has made to the report by the Healthcare Commission on Intervention at Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and its recommendations on reducing ischaemic time; whether he has assessed the merits of using beating heart transplant technology in the UK's transplant units; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Heart transplantation operations are inherently high risk and services need to be actively monitored and practice reviewed to assure the quality and the safety of patients. Papworth hospital has resumed heart transplantation after the Healthcare Commission said that quality of care at the hospital was good and the Trust agreed to implement a number of recommendations to improve some aspects of practice in line with the best standards. We are aware that Papworth hospital has participated in a European study looking at the merits of using beating heart technology but that results have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Heart Disease: Transplant Surgery

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of research on the correlation between ischaemia time and 30 day mortality rates after heart transplantation; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has reviewed all commercially-available medical technologies and assessed their ability to reduce ischaemic injury to donor organs for use in organ transplantation; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the 30 day survival rate for heart transplant patients who received a beating heart transplant using the organ care system at Papworth and Harefield hospitals; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will make an assessment of the likely effect on survival rates in heart transplantation of the use of the organ care system/beating heart transplant technology in all the UK's transplant units; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  if he will make an assessment of the likely effect on the number of donor organs in heart transplantation of the use of the organ care system/beating heart transplant technology in all the UK's transplant units; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: A European study of the use of the organ care system has been carried out in 20 patients including seven at Papworth hospital and one at Harefield hospital. We understand that the study was not a randomised controlled trial and had no comparison group. The results were presented at 2007 meeting of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation but have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. This presentation stated that there were no deaths within 30 days of transplantation in the 20 patients in the study. We have not made an assessment of the merits of using the organ care system in United Kingdom transplant units but understand that the Food and Drug Administration has given approval of a research study at five named centres in the United States of America to evaluate the safety and performance of the organ care system in heart transplantation. This study will start in 2008 and may provide relevant evidence for the future. The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation publishes figures for survival at one year following heart transplant according to different ischaemic times.

Heart Disease: Transplant Surgery

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether  (a) he and  (b) other Ministers in his Department have discussed the clinical merits of beating heart transplant technology with the Clinical Director of Transplant Services at Papworth Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: We have not discussed the clinical merits of beating heart transplant technology with the clinical director of transplant services at Papworth hospital.

Hillingdon Primary Care Trust: Infectious Diseases

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of  (a) MRSA and  (b) clostridium difficile were recorded in the Hillingdon Primary Care Trust in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. However, the information is collected at trust level. The following table shows information on how many cases of methicillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections and  Clostridium difficile infection from the mandatory surveillance scheme run by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). Data are only available from 2001.
	
		
			  April to March each year  Number of (MRSA) bloodstream infection reports at the Hillingdon hospital NHS trust 
			 2001-02 33 
			 2002-03 36 
			 2003-04 24 
			 2004-05 30 
			 2005-06 24 
			 2006-07 38 
		
	
	
		
			   Number of C. difficile reports for patients aged 65 years and over at the Hillingdon hospital NHS Trust 
			 January-December 2004 219 
			 January-December 2005 140 
			 January-December 2006 196 
			 January-June 2007 (6 months only) 122 
			  Source:  Health Protection Agency—provisional data

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which the 10 most common types of hospital infection were in the last year for which figures are available; and what the incidence was in each in 1997.

Ann Keen: The requested information is not available and the best available data are from the Health Protection Agency's (HPA) voluntary reporting system.
	The following table gives data collected from the voluntary reporting system for 1997 and 2006 for the nine most common causes of bacteraemia(1) (bacterial bloodstream infections) and for  Clostridium difficile, which is associated with diarrhoea and not the blood stream.
	(1 )These organisms are associated with infections that are transmitted mainly or partly within hospitals.
	
		
			  Organism  1997  2006 
			 Escherichia coli 10179 18043 
			 Coagulase negative staphylococci 4351 14184 
			 Staphylococcus aureus 8974 13616 
			 MRSA (Percentage) 29 38 
			 Enterococcus spp 2396 7070 
			 Klebsiella spp 2378 5162 
			 Streptococcus pneumoniae 5256 4539 
			 Pseudomonas spp 1721 3454 
			 Enterobacter spp 1425 2410 
			 Proteus spp 1413 1839 
			 Clostridium difficile 14541 51089 
			  Note: Data source HPA laboratory reports (voluntary reporting system). 
		
	
	The increase in bacteraemias is partly due to better reporting, surveillance and testing and may also reflect a changing hospital population, with more patients who are vulnerable to infection through conditions which compromise their immune systems being treated.

Hospitals: Police

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many hospitals have special arrangements with local police forces to allow  (a) permanent and  (b) semi-permanent stationing of police officers on their grounds to deter criminal activity;
	(2)  how many criminal convictions following assaults on ambulance drivers there were in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many attacks there were on ambulance drivers in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many criminal convictions there were following assaults on hospital staff in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(5)  how many attacks there were on hospital staff in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: In 2003 the national health service security management service (NHS SMS) was created and assumed responsibility for tackling violence against national health service staff.
	The NHS SMS has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Association of Chief Police Officers. This encourages NHS trusts to agree a protocol with their local police to address how they can work together to deter criminal activity. Special arrangements between NHS trusts and the police are a matter for local agreement and information is not collated centrally on these agreements.
	Since 2004-05, the NHS SMS has collected statistics on the number of physical assaults against NHS staff and the number of criminal sanctions against individuals who have assaulted NHS staff. Information on assaults and sanctions in relation to ambulance and hospital staff in the year 2006-07 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS sector  Number of reported assaults  Number of criminal sanctions( 1) 
			 Acute and Foundation trusts 9,685 419 
			 Ambulance workers 1,006 142 
			 (1) Figures include all criminal sanctions: Cautions and conditional cautions Conditional discharges Community rehabilitation or punishment orders Imprisonment (including suspended sentences) Fines

Incontinence

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the Commercial Directorate's latest consultation on reimbursement for stoma and incontinence products and services under Part IX of the Drug Tariff omits reference to four of the seven objectives originally set for the review covering fair prices for the NHS and reasonable returns for suppliers, facilitating the introduction of innovative solutions, maintaining local choice in the provision of services and keeping administration to the necessary minimum; and how performance against all the review's objectives will be measured.

Ben Bradshaw: The review and related consultation has been ongoing since October 2005 and none of the original list of objectives is omitted.
	In the current consultation document, the list of objectives is streamlined for simplicity. The Department has subsequently reiterated all of the objectives of the review contained in Clarification Document published on 4 October, which is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_078135
	A copy has been placed in the Library.
	Following Cabinet Office guidelines the Department will be carrying out a review three years post-implementation to assess whether the objects of any changes are achieving their objectives.

Medical Treatments: Waiting Lists

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets the Government sets for waiting times for cancer patients requiring diagnostic endoscopies; and what the average waiting time was for cancer patients awaiting diagnostic endoscopies by the Royal Cornwall Trust in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: There are no specific waiting time targets for urgent endoscopies for cancer patients and endoscopy waiting times are not collected centrally. However, where a patient needs an urgent endoscopy following urgent referral by their general practitioner for suspected cancer, the whole patient pathway from referral to commencing first cancer treatment should not exceed 62 days.
	Outside the cancer pathway, by 2008, there will be a maximum 18-week pathway from referral to treatment for all patients. This will include time spent waiting for diagnostic tests.

Mental Health Services: Prisons

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome was of the most recent mental health needs assessment in each prison establishment.

Ivan Lewis: In 2001, the document "Changing the Outlook: A Strategy for Developing and Modernising Mental Health Services in Prisons" (2001) asked prisons to work with their local national health service partners to review the mental health needs assessments they made during 2001-01 and to develop action plans to fill any gaps in provision that may have been identified.
	This process informed the development of prison mental health services, and the introduction of prison mental health in-reach teams, during the process of transferring responsibility for prison health services from HM Prison Service to the NHS.
	Since 2006, all prison health services, including prison mental health services, have been fully commissioned by NHS primary care trusts (PCTs). Local health needs assessments for prison populations are now therefore a matter for PCTs.

Mental Health Services: Prisons

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the Government on mental health services in prison in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: In England the total amount allocated specifically to primary care trusts for national health service mental health services in prisons was £1,719,000 in 2001-02; £3,685,000 in 2002-03; £9,400,000 in 2003-04; and £20,000,000 for each year since 2005-06.
	The information requested is not available before 2001.

Mental Health: Employment

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 27 November 2007, on mental health and employment: meeting the challenge, when he expects to establish a mental health forum.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
	On 27 November we announced our intention to establish a mental health forum to bring together all those involved in the delivery of Pathways to Work support, in order to share evidence and experiences in relation to support for people with mental health conditions. When the rollout of Pathways to Work is completed, we will bring forward proposals for this forum.

Mentally Ill: Drugs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were prescribed drugs for  (a) depression,  (b) behaviour control/management and  (c) mental health problems in each year since 1980-81; at what total cost in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Not all prescriptions for drugs which are licensed for treating mental illness will have been prescribed for a mental illness. Some drugs, which are indicated for treating mental illness, are also prescribed for other illnesses such as narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Some drugs used to treat depression are also used for other purposes.
	Information on the total number of patients receiving prescriptions for medicines licensed for treating depression, behaviour control and other mental health problems from the national health service in England is not collected centrally.
	Data are available on the total number of prescriptions dispensed in primary care for medicines licensed for treating these conditions, in each financial year from 1991-92 to 2006-07, and is shown in table 1. Prescriptions for behaviour control or management have been identified as those medicines which are indicated as central nervous system stimulants and drugs which are licensed for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Data on the number of prescriptions dispensed prior to 1991 are not reliable and have not been included in the table.
	
		
			  Table 1: Total number of prescriptions dispensed in primary care settings by the NHS in England for medicines which are licensed for treating (a) depression, (b) behaviour control or management and (c) other mental health problems between 1991-92 and 2006-07—data are for all ages, male and female combined 
			  Thousand 
			  Financial year  All antidepressant drugs  All central nervous system stimulants and drugs used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder  All drugs used in psychoses and related disorders 
			 1991-92 9,167.3 69.9 3,605.4 
			 1992-93 10,155.9 78.3 3,843.9 
			 1993-94 10,999.3 89.6 4,095.7 
			 1994-95 12,171.9 100.7 4,345.9 
			 1995-96 13,617.7 120.0 4,615.6 
			 1996-97 15,325.2 166.7 4,859.4 
			 1997-98 17,285.1 200.4 5,164.0 
			 1998-99 18,843.8 231.8 5,463.2 
			 1999-2000 20,560.6 260.8 5,677.9 
			 2000-01 22,633.7 272.0 5,857.1 
			 2001-02 24,787.1 295.8 5,679.7 
			 2002-03 26,675.4 353.1 6,068.9 
			 2003-04 28,098.9 414.1 6,486.0 
			 2004-05 28,913.4 470.5 6,600.1 
			 2005-06 29,878.5 536.8 6,974.3 
			 2006-07 31,704.6 630.8 7,367.1 
			  Source: Prescription Cost Analysis, NHS Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	An indication of the total annual cost of these drugs can be obtained from data on their total net ingredient cost for each year. Data for 1980 to 1990 are shown in table 2 and data for 1991-92 to 2006-07 are shown in table 3. Data up to December 1990 were collected on a calendar year basis and data since 1991 have been collected on a financial year basis.
	
		
			  Table 2: Total net ingredient cost of prescriptions dispensed in primary care settings by the NHS in England for medicines which are licensed for treating (a) depression, (b) behaviour control or management and (c) other mental health problems 1980-90—data are for all ages, male and female combined 
			  £000 
			   All antidepressant drugs  All drugs used in psychoses and related disorders  All central nervous system stimulants and drugs used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder 
			 1980 18,513.2 4,897.9 79.1 
			 1981 21,517.2 5,196.3 93.3 
			 1982 24,087.7 6,242.0 123.3 
			 1983 25,294.9 6,958.8 94.4 
			 1984 25,373.9 7,407.3 80.4 
			 1985 25,981.7 8,371.8 95.8 
			 1986 27,334.8 8,450.7 86.5 
			 1987 30,084.4 9,406.0 76.9 
			 1988 31,992.7 10,640.0 60.5 
			 1989 35,358.7 12,030.0 57.0 
			 1990 40,867.9 12,835.2 56.7 
			  Source: Prescription Cost Analysis, NHS Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Total net ingredient cost of prescriptions dispensed in primary care settings by the NHS in England for medicines which are licensed for treating (a) depression, (b) behaviour control or management and (c) other mental health  problems 1991-92 to 2006-07—data are  for all ages, male and female combined 
			  £000 
			  Financial year  All antidepressant drugs  All drugs used in psychoses and related disorders  All central nervous system stimulants and drugs used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder 
			 1991-92 59,473.7 15,451.3 64.9 
			 1992-93 88,427.2 16,870.0 124.4 
			 1993-94 101,303.8 19,300.5 237.7 
			 1994-95 123,959.8 22,384.8 326.1 
			 1995-96 156,957.5 26,638.6 694.8 
			 1996-97 201,867.6 32,946.5 1,345.1 
			 1997-98 250,528.6 46,734.9 2,223.5 
			 1998-99 287,968.7 65,508.7 3,373.4 
			 1999-2000 322,485.3 86,077.5 4,487.2 
			 2000-01 309,081.2 106,785.0 5,404.8 
			 2001-02 353,078.7 140,698.1 6,641.7 
			 2002-03 385,655.9 173,590.2 10,440.5 
			 2003-04 398,132.2 205,563.6 14,773.1 
			 2004-05 393,588.2 218,429.7 19,837.4 
			 2005-06 322,035.5 228,695.2 25,691.5 
			 2006-07 285,623.6 251,855.6 30,387.9 
			  Notes: 1. Prescription information is taken from the PCA system, supplied by the Prescription Pricing Division of the Business Services Authority. It is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. 2. The data include prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, but dispensed in England. The data apply to primary care settings and exclude drugs dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions. 3. The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of a drug. They do not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income. 4. The data up to 1990 are not consistent with data from 1991 onwards. Figures for 1980-90 are based on fees, and on a sample of one in 200 prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only. Figures for 1991 onwards are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.  Source: Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA), NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

NHS

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to break up the commercial directorate of the NHS and create regional centres to carry out its work; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Commercial Directorate will continue to play a major role in providing commercial expertise to the Department and in helping build commercial capability across the national health service. It will exercise its role in partnership with strategic health authorities and other NHS organisations.

NHS: British Nationality

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any jobs within the NHS are reserved for British citizens; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: When recruiting, national health service employers will follow employment laws, the immigration rules and European Community directives and should be mindful of any guidance on employment published by the Department and its agencies. These documents will include provisions on the consideration and employment of applicants in relation to their nationality, ethnicity, race and immigration status.

NHS: Fees and Charges

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS was of road calming tolls and charges in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on costs relating to road calming tolls incurred by the national health service through non-emergency ambulance services and the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme is not collected centrally. It would be for the NHS locally to assume and manage responsibility for paying any costs relating to this issue.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the estimated out-turn for NHS resource spending in 2007-08 on page 176 of HM Treasury's 2007 pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review is almost £1 billion higher than the baseline for resource spending that the NHS has been set for 2007-08 on page 207 of the document.

Ben Bradshaw: The difference in figures is due to timing. The higher value of £87.6 billion reported in table B13 (page 176) of HM Treasury's pre-Budget report is consistent with the 2007-08 plan revenue resource expenditure reported in the "Department of Health Department Report 2007" (Figure Al).
	The baseline figure of £86.848 billion for 2007-08 (on page 207) used in the Spending Review (SR) is the earlier figure modified by latest forecast technical underspends on non-cash and a transfer from the national health service departmental expenditure limit to NHS annually managed expenditure of funding for impairments.
	The approach used by the Department for establishing SR baselines is consistent with that used by all other Departments.

NHS: Illegal Immigrants

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of illegal immigrants  (a) working in the NHS and  (b) who have worked in the NHS in each of the last five years as (i) NHS personnel and (ii) contractors.

Ann Keen: It is the responsibility of employers (national health service and otherwise) to ensure that their employees are eligible to work in the United Kingdom.

NHS: Management

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many managers were employed in the NHS in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many there were in 1997.

Ann Keen: The latest published annual national health service workforce census showed there were 36,751 managers and senior managers employed in the NHS in England in 2006 compared with 22,173 in 1997.
	Managers make up less than 3 per cent. of the NHS workforce. The number of managers and senior managers fell by 7.2 per cent. from 2005 to 2006.

NHS: Pensions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the most recent estimated pensions liability is of the NHS; what estimate was made of liability in May 1997; and what estimate he has made of the projected future change in the liability.

Ann Keen: The Government Actuary's Department (GAD) has valued the total future liabilities of the NHS Pension Scheme (England and Wales) as at 31 March 2007 to be £218 billion. The Government Actuary's Department has valued the liabilities for the NHS Pension Schemes for the United Kingdom as at 31 March 2006 to be £189 billion.
	Figures produced by the GAD for the Inland Revenue Annual Statistical Digest, for the year ending April 1998, show the UK NHS Pension Scheme liability was £79 billion. However, the actuarial assumptions underlying these figures and those of the 2006 valuation are not directly comparable and have been produced for different purposes.
	GAD are in the process of preparing a detailed actuarial valuation of the scheme as at 31 March 2004 which will be published later this year and will include analysis of the factors leading to any change in valuation.

NHS: Pensions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on NHS pensions in each of the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: The information requested for England and Wales is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Month of payment  Benefit payments (£) 
			  2006  
			 October 342,215,985 
			 November 351,768,181 
			 December 372,243,249 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 333,913,430 
			 February 342,993,413 
			 March 395,647,395 
			 April 416,444,982 
			 May 400,168,271 
			 June 413,896,856 
			 July 388,429,121 
			 August 433,947,880 
			 September 353,219,060 
			 Total 4,544,887,823 
			  Source: NHS Pensions. 
		
	
	Over the same period, total employer and employee contributions received were £6,720,182,642.

NHS: Public Appointments

Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) name,  (b) employment background,  (c) ethnicity,  (d) gender and  (e) political affiliation, if any, is of each person appointed to the boards of (i) NHS acute trusts, (ii) primary care trusts and (iii) mental health trusts in North West of England since 2001.

Ann Keen: The appointment of non-executive members to the boards of national health service acute trusts, primary care trusts and mental health trusts has, since 2001, been delegated by the Secretary of State to the Appointments Commission. The Commission has been asked to respond to my right hon. Friend.
	The appointment of executive members to the boards of these bodies are made locally by each NHS organisation as an employer in their own right. The information requested is, therefore, not held centrally for executive appointments to NHS boards.

Nurses: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many practice nurses there were in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and  (b) the London Borough of Bexley in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2007.

Ann Keen: The information requested is only available by primary care trust (PCT) area.
	The latest figures available for the number of practice nurses in Bexley Care Trust are in the following table.
	The area mentioned came under Bexley and Greenwich Health Authority (HA) in 1997, so the figures for Greenwich Teaching Primary Care Trust have been included in the 2006 data for comparability purposes.
	
		
			  GP practice nurses for selected areas, as at 1997 and 2006 
			  Number (headcount) 
			1997  2006 
			 QAA Bexley and Greenwich HA 136 — 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust — 100 
			 5A8 Greenwich Teaching PCT — 82 
			 '—' Denotes data not available  Notes: 1. Data as at 1 October 1997 and 30 September 2006 2. Data presented for organisations in existence in the specified years  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Nurses: Foreign Workers

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which 10 nationalities supplied the greatest number of foreign national nurses in the NHS in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.
	The Nursing and Midwifery Council does not keep records of the nationality of registered nurses or midwives but does record the country of qualification of new registrants. The latest information is available in the document "Nursing and Midwifery Council, Statistical analysis of the register, 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006", which has been placed in the Library. Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council is not a guarantee of employment in the national health service and newly registered nurses and midwives may not be in the United Kingdom or working in the NHS.

Nurses: Manpower

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many practice nurses there were in  (a) Uxbridge constituency,  (b) the London borough of Hillingdon and  (c) England in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The information requested can be found in the following table, which shows the number of general practitioner Practice Nurses for England, Hillingdon Health Authority and Hillingdon Primary Care Trust (of which Uxbridge is a part) since 1997-2006 (which is the latest data available).
	
		
			  Number (headcount) 
			   1997  1998( 1)  1999( 1)  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 England 18,389 18,894 19,495 19,200 19,846 20,983 21,667 22,144 22,904 23,797 
			 London 2,564 2,832 2,780 2,827 2,741 2,891 2,821 2,906 2,862 2,898 
			 Hillingdon HA 87 97 95 97 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Hillingdon PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a 98 93 99 99 96 93 
			 n/a = not available (1) Headcount Practice Nurse figures are estimated for these years. Data presented for Organisations in existence in the specified years. Data as at 1 October 1997-99, 30 September 2000-06.  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Nurses: Pay

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the figure of £40 per visit proposed by his Department as the level of remuneration for employers of specialist nurses or stoma nurses was reached.

Ann Keen: The formula used for calculating the fee to cover the cost of conducting a home visit by a specialist nurse is shown on page 14 of "Arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances—and related services—to Primary Care Revised Proposals. Annex A: Proposals regarding Service Provision and Remuneration", which is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_078135
	Copies have also been placed in the Library.
	
		
			  Fee components  Calculated value  Underlying assumptions  Source 
			 Annual number of nurse visits conducted (240 x 8) / 1.5 = 1,280 1.5 hours (including travelling time) spent per visit Based on industry research 
			   Eight working hours per day Based on industry norm 
			   240 working days per year Based on industry norm 
			 
			 Cost per specialist nurse home visit Cost per nurse visit = £48,000 / 1,280 = £38 Gross annual salary of nurse conducting home visit at £48,000 Based on data for Grade 8A nurse from the Royal College of Nursing 
			   1,280 nurse visits conducted by a nurse per year Based on aforementioned calculation* 
		
	
	While the calculated value amounts to £38 per nurse visit, the fee level proposed in this consultation is £40 per nurse visit.
	Note that it is also proposed that the number of these visits that a dispensing contractor may declare in any financial year (April to March) should be limited to l/70th of the part IXA (catheter), part IXB (incontinence-related) and part IXC (stoma) prescription items dispensed in that year.

Nutrition: Training

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations are developing the online training session on nutritional care and assistance with eating referred to on page 4 of his Department's document, Improving Nutritional Care; how the training session will be made available to  (a) NHS and  (b) social care staff; whether he intends to make the training session available to those health professionals who work outside the NHS and social care services; what topics he intends the online training session to cover; what the cost to the public purse will be of its development; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The online training session on nutritional care referred to in "Improving Nutritional Care—A joint Action Plan from the Department of Health and Nutrition Summit stakeholders" is being designed and provided by the National Health Service Core Learning Unit. The NHS Core Learning Unit is currently developing the content of the course and it will be made available in May 2008. Topics for the course are being decided by an expert reference group and it is expected to cover provision of support to service users during mealtimes. The course will be free to all NHS staff as an online e-learning module and will be made available to all social care staff and also those working outside the NHS and social care system at a negotiated price. The cost of establishing the course is contained within the existing budget of the NHS Core Learning Unit as part of their programme of work for 2007-08.

Oral Cancer: Screening

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to introduce screening for mouth cancer.

Ann Keen: The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.
	The current position of the NSC is that screening for mouth cancer should not be offered.

Ovarian Cancer

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the levels of awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to raise levels of awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer through the Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The Cancer Reform Strategy, published on 3 December, announced the National Awareness and Early Detection Initiative, which will include collaborative work between the Department of Health, health professionals, patient groups and the voluntary sector to develop standardised messages to be used in information resources and campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the risk factors and signs and symptoms of cancer, including ovarian cancer. The strategy also explained that Cancer Research UK is developing a modular assessment tool to assess levels of awareness of cancer risk factors and symptoms.

Paramedical Staff: Private Sector

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on registering private training programmes for non-NHS paramedics; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Health Professions Council has the responsibility for regulating the paramedic profession and sets standards for the education and training of paramedics. These standards are the same for all education providers and programmes—public and private.

Patients: Nutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 3 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1884W, on patients: nutrition, how many bed days for finished episodes there were where the  (a) primary and  (b) secondary diagnosis was (i) malnutrition and (ii) nutritional anaemias in each year since 1997-98.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Count of bed days in the year for finished episodes where there was a primary or secondary diagnosis of nutritional anaemias( 1)  (D50-D53) , n ational health service hospitals, England, 2005-06 to 1997-98 
			   Bed days during the year 
			 2005-06 836,984 
			 2004-05 802,632 
			 2003-04 779,913 
			 2002-03 752,241 
			 2001-02 660,658 
			 2000-01 632,467 
			 1999-2000 613,567 
			 1998-99 602,670 
			 1997-98 588,023 
			 (1 )Nutritional anaemias  Notes: D50 Iron deficiency anaemias  D51 Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemias D52 Folate deficiency anaemias D53 Other nutritional anaemias

Prescriptions: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the dispensing doctors in Hampshire, broken down by  (a) local authority area and  (b) primary care trust for each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested can be found in the following table. Data are only collected at primary care trust (PCT) level.
	
		
			  Summary of dispensing doctors in Hampshire 
			   Financial years 
			  PCT  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 All specified organisations 151 156 165 166 147 
			   
			 Blackwater Valley(1) 2 2 2 2 0 
			 East Hampshire(1) 23 27 27 26 0 
			 Eastleigh and Test Valley South(1) 19 19 20 20 0 
			 Fareham and Gosport(1) 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Mid Hampshire(1) 64 63 68 69 0 
			 New Forest(1) 12 12 11 12 0 
			 North Hampshire(1) 31 33 37 37 0 
			   
			 Hampshire(2) 0 0 0 166 147 
			 (1) These PCTs ceased operating on 30 September 2006 (2) Hampshire PCT starting operating on 1 October 2006  Note: Data as at 1 April in each period  Source: NHS Business Service Authority—Prescription Pricing Division

Pressure Sores

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when his Department last commissioned studies into the prevalence of pressure sores in  (a) hospital settings,  (b) care homes and  (c) the community;
	(2)  how many critical incident reports in which pressure sores have been cited as a factor were produced in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS trust;
	(3)  what guidance his Department provides to NHS trusts on collecting and recording data on bed sores.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not provide guidance to the NHS on collecting and recording data on bed sores.
	The Department has not commissioned studies on the prevalence of pressure sores in hospital, care homes, or the community.
	Information on the number of critical incident reports, in which pressure sores were cited as a factor, is not available centrally.

Prostate Cancer

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the numbers of clinical nurses specialising in prostate cancer.

Ann Keen: Workforce planning is a matter for local determination. It is for local workforce planners to determine the prostate cancer nurse needs of their local populations with appropriate support from the Workforce Review Team, National Workforce Projects and NHS Employers.

Queen's Hospital Romford: Abuse

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of abuse of hospital staff have been recorded at Queen's Hospital, Romford, since its establishment.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the number of reported physical assaults on national health service staff in England 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 at Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust.
	
		
			  Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 
			   Physical assaults 
			 2004-05 143 
			 2005-06 174 
			 2006-07 137 
			  Source: National Health Service Security Management Service (NHS SMS) 
		
	
	A table showing the estimated number of reported violent incidents collected by the Department of Health for 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03 for each hospital trust in England is contained in the Survey of Reported Violent or Abusive Incidents, Accidents Involving Staff and Sickness Absence in NHS Trusts and Health Authorities, in England, which has been placed in the Library.

Radiotherapy: Finance

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what mechanism the additional £200 million allocated for increased radiotherapy capacity under the new NHS Cancer Reform Strategy will be allocated to individual  (a) primary care trusts and  (b) hospitals.

Ann Keen: £200 million is the annual cost to the national health service of radiotherapy services. To increase capacity and deliver world class treatment to cancer patients in England we will invest £130 million in new equipment and staff over the next three years.
	The revenue component of the £130 million will be included in primary care trust (PCT) allocations, with PCTs agreeing funding to hospitals in line with locally agreed contracts.
	The capital funding for improvements to cancer services is included within the total capital funding available to the NHS. The detail of how this investment will be delivered will be agreed as part of the NHS capital planning process.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the potential effect on the incidence of seasonally affected depression of introducing British Summer Time in winter and Double British Summer Time in summer.

Ivan Lewis: Seasonal affective disorder is thought to be related to the overall number of daylight hours a person experiences through the year. The introduction of British Summer Time alone would thus have no overall effect on its incidence.

Spectacles: Voucher Schemes

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider the merits of introducing NHS vouchers to meet the cost of sports glasses for those under 19 years of age and in full-time education.

Ann Keen: National health service optical vouchers are available to children under 16 and children aged 16, 17 and 18 in full-time education. Where optical vouchers have been issued following the testing of sight they are used towards the cost of a powered optical appliance which meets the needs identified in the sight test. This is intended to be for optical appliances which meet the everyday needs of the patient. Primary care trusts have the discretion to approve the issue of a second NHS optical voucher although this would only be in exceptional circumstances and based on clinical need. There are no plans to alter the current voucher arrangements.

Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust: Manpower

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health workers were employed in Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services: NHS staff in the Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust by main staff group as at 30 September each specified year 
			  H eadcount 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Total staff 2,246 2,373 2,462 2,446 2,302 
			   
			 Medical and dental staff 76 82 85 84 85 
			   
			 Non-medical staff total 2,170 2,291 2,377 2,362 2,217 
			   
			 Professionally qualified clinical staff 765 776 804 794 766 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 617 614 642 632 614 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic (ST) and technical staff (T) 148 162 162 162 152 
			 Qualified allied health professions 96 109 106 103 95 
			 Other qualified ST and T staff 52 53 56 59 57 
			   
			 Support to clinical staff 798 905 976 974 907 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 774 879 951 952 881 
			 Support to ST and T staff 24 26 25 22 26 
			   
			 NHS infrastructure support 607 610 597 594 544 
			 Central functions 182 183 178 215 201 
			 Hotel, property and estates 326 319 314 291 272 
			 Managers and senior managers 99 108 105 88 71 
			  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census. The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census.

Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust: Strokes

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the delivery of the national service framework on stroke services in the Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust area; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department does not currently have a national service framework (NSF) on stroke services. Therefore, it is not possible to comment on the effectiveness of the delivery of such a document in the Telford and Wrekin primary care trust area.
	However, the Department recently carried out a consultation exercise on a stroke strategy document and this document was launched on 5 December. In addition, the NSF for long-term conditions was published in 2004 and this provides general guidelines for a range of conditions, including stroke. Prior to this the NSF for Older People, published in 2001, included a chapter on stroke services.

Transplant Surgery

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of using the organ care system on  (a) the level of ischaemic injury to donor organs,  (b) the outcomes after organ transplant procedure and  (c) the level of utilisation of existing donor organs; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: I have not made an assessment of the effect of using the organ care system in UK transplant units but understand that the Food and Drug Administration has given approval of a research study at five named centres in the United States of America to evaluate the safety and performance of the organ care system in heart transplantation. This study will start in 2008 and may provide relevant evidence for the future.

Transplant Surgery

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on the health economy of  (a) reducing ischaemic injury to donor organs and  (b) the ability to evaluate organ function prior to transplantation to avoid diseased organs being transplanted; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: We have made no specific assessment of the effect on the health economy of reducing ischaemic injury to donor organs and the ability to evaluate organ function prior to transplantation to avoid diseased organs being transplanted. We continue to support action to increase the number, safety and quality of organs donated for transplantation to enable more people to benefit from a transplant.

Transplant Surgery

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many transplants of each type of organ in each primary care trust area there were in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: This information has been placed in the Library.

Urology

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished consultant episodes relating to the treatment of ruptured bladders there have been in the NHS in each year since 1997-98.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with a diagnosis that mentions the rupture of a bladder not due to trauma, in national health service hospitals in each year from 1997-08 to 2005-06.
	
		
			   Number of finished consultant episodes 
			 2005-06 83 
			 2004-05 52 
			 2003-04 68 
			 2002-03 69 
			 2001-02 57 
			 2000-01 46 
			 1999-2000 75 
			 1998-99 66 
			 1997-98 62 
			  Notes:  1.  Data Quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  2.  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected the NHS there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  3.  All Diagnoses count of episodes These figures represent a count of all FCEs where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in a HES record. An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  4.  Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).   Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Business: Non-domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether an impact assessment has been produced for the Government's plans for a supplementary business rate.

John Healey: The introduction of a supplementary business rate will be a local decision. It will therefore be for individual local authorities to consider the potential impact on local businesses in developing proposals for business rate supplements. In consulting with local businesses and other stakeholders, authorities will need to include their assessment of the economic benefits and costs of the particular project and supplement, which will vary from case to case.

Business: Non-domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the maximum permitted business rate multiplier to be levied in a Business District is in a locality with the maximum permitted supplementary business rate.

John Healey: Subject to Parliament's approval of the necessary primary legislation, the maximum business rate supplement will be 2p per pound of rateable value. The business rate multiplier will continue to be set in the usual way. It will be for any local authority setting a business rate supplement to determine whether any business improvement district (BID) levy should be offset against the business rate supplement. As now, there is no statutory maximum limit on BIDs levies.

Care Homes: Manpower

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance the Government give to housing associations on the provision of residential wardens in sheltered accommodation.

John Healey: holding answer 6 December 2007
	The Government do not issue detailed guidance to housing associations on the provision of residential wardens in sheltered accommodation. The Housing Corporation, which is responsible for the regulation of registered social landlords, does not specify how support services should be delivered in housing for older people but it does state in its guidance that tenants in housing for older people should have access to support services as need arises to enable them to live in the property for the rest of their lifetimes.

Casinos

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times the interdepartmental working group considering alternatives to the regional casino in Manchester has met; on which dates; and who was in attendance on each occasion.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today PQs 166759 to 166763.

Casinos

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for her review of super-casinos; if she will publish her terms of reference for this review; and whether her review will include an assessment of the merits of casinos defined as  (a) small and  (b) large under the terms of the Gambling Act 2005.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) to PQs 166759 to 166763.

Corporate Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions she has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months.

Parmjit Dhanda: Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.

Council Housing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance  (a) her Department and  (b) the Housing Corporation has provided to local authorities and housing associations on the account to be taken when determining social lettings in a locality or on an estate of the existing ethnic composition of those areas.

Iain Wright: The code of guidance on the allocation of accommodation advises local authorities to ensure that their allocation scheme and lettings plan are representative of the community and promote community cohesion; and to ensure that the views of groups which are currently under-represented in social housing are taken into account when consulting on their allocation scheme and developing their lettings plans. Otherwise, the code advises authorities that they must ensure that their allocation policies and procedures do not discriminate, directly or indirectly, on grounds of race or ethnicity.
	The Housing Corporation's regulatory code and guidance expects registered social landlords (RSLs) to have lettings and sales policies that are flexible, non-discriminatory and responsive to demand, while contributing to the need to be inclusive and the need to ensure sustainable communities. The regulatory code also expects RSLs to ensure their lettings are proportionate to black and minority ethnic housing need in the areas where the RSL has homes.

Council Housing: Debts

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the housing debt was of each local authority in each year since 1997; how much principal debt was paid off in each year by each authority and how this was resourced or otherwise financed, categorised by  (a) right to buy receipts,  (b) transfer receipts,  (c) other capital receipts,  (d) Treasury debt write off and  (e) support for overhanging debt; what the cost was of servicing the debt, including the interest rate; and what were the means whereby this was funded.

Iain Wright: I have arranged for a table showing: the level of housing debt, the amount each authority with debt set-aside for the repayment of that housing debt, the cost of servicing the debt (the 'Item 8 debit' in the Housing Revenue Account) and the interest rate that the housing debt attracted (the 'Consolidated rate of Interest' or CRI) for each financial year from 1997-98 to 2005-06 (the last year for which audited data is available) to be deposited in the Library.
	Until 1 April 2004, local authorities were required to 'set aside' a proportion of their capital receipts for the repayment of housing debt, although whether or not the amount set aside was actually used to repay housing debt was a treasury management decision for the authority. It was assumed for the purposes of HRA subsidy that housing debt was repaid. The absence of set-aside data in the table after 2003-04 reflects the introduction of the housing capital receipts 'pooling' regime replacing set-aside and there being no requirement to collect 'set-aside' data from that year. Set-aside data used in the HRA subsidy calculation were audited and so collected in the year following the year it was actually set-aside. It was considered that building set-aside into the HRA subsidy model for 2004-05 was not appropriate as the pooling of capital receipts would also be operating for this year.
	The data available to Communities and Local Government do not allow the break-down of set-aside into its constitute parts, which will include right to buy sales, transfer receipts and receipts from other disposals such as the sale of housing land.
	Treasury does not 'write off' housing debt. Any overhanging housing debt arising from a housing stock transfer is cleared by a payment from Communities and Local Government. These payments are made from an Annually Managed Expenditure Budget held by the Department. Under this arrangement debt moves from one part of the public sector to another, and in consequence there is no net increase in the public sector borrowing requirement. The Exchequer meets future interest payments generated by such transactions.
	The following table shows the value of transfer receipts and the value of overhanging debt payments by year for England since 1997.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Transfer receipts  Overhanging debt payments 
			 1997-98 259.67 0 
			 1998-99 483.94 0 
			 1999-2000 658.67 21.00 
			 2000-01 830.20 255.20 
			 2001-02 377.73 0 
			 2002-03 545.87 548.20 
			 2003-04 140.83 91.00 
			 2004-05 200.40 591.48 
			 2005-06 128.53 385.87 
			 2006-07 91.98 533.49 
			 Current financial year to date 156.86 252.00

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the electorate has a personal liability for council tax in whole or in part, excluding households on 100 per cent. council tax benefit and those with a 100 per cent. exemption from council tax.

John Healey: Table 1 of the statistics release 'Local Authority Taxbase - 2007 England' gives details of properties in England as at 8 October 2007 that were liable for council tax. This release is available on the Communities and Local Government's website at
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/ctax/ctbase07.htm.
	Information to establish the number of people personally liable for council tax is not held centrally.

Council Tax: Greater London

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Greater London Authority precept, and its predecessors' equivalent was in  (a) cash terms and  (b) as a proportion of Band D council tax in each year since 1997-98.

John Healey: Details of the Greater London authority precept, and its predecessors' equivalent, in both cash terms and as a proportion of the average two-adult band D council tax for London, in each year since 1997-98 are shown in the following table. No other precepts were levied on London council tax bills in 1997-98.
	
		
			   Cash terms (£)  As percentage of average two-adult band D council tax for London 
			   GLA  London fire  Metropolitan police  GLA  London fire  Metropolitan police 
			 1997-98 — 25 63 — 4 10 
			 1998-99 — 26 76 — 4 11 
			 1999-2000 — 28 83 — 4 11 
			 2000-01 123 — — 16 — — 
			 2001-02 151 — — 18 — — 
			 2002-03 174 — — 19 — — 
			 2003-04 224 — — 21 — — 
			 2004-05 241 — — 22 — — 
			 2005-06 255 — — 22 — — 
			 2006-07 289 — — 24 — — 
			 2007-08 304 — — 24 — —

Council Tax: Lee Valley Regional Park Authority

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the current cap is on the maximum Band D precept that Lee Valley Regional Park Authority can set.

John Healey: The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority is funded by a levy on authorities in Essex, Hertfordshire and Greater London and not by a council tax precept.

Council Tax: York

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average level of council tax was in the Vale of York in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Details of the average council tax for the last three years in the local authority areas that are covered by the Vale of York are available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/ctax/data/ctaxtimes.xls

Councillors Commission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects  (a) the Councillors Commission to report and  (b) her Department to respond to that report.

John Healey: The Councillors Commission's report was published on 10 December. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be working with other Government Departments and key partners to consider the report and develop an implementation plan. The Department will respond to the Commission's report in March 2008.

Councillors: Insurance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance the Government has provided on whether councillors travelling to council meetings are deemed to be employed by their local authority for insurance purposes.

John Healey: Insurance arrangements are matters for each individual local authority, on which the Government do not provide guidance.

Departmental Databases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many databases are maintained by her Department; and what the  (a) title and  (b) purpose is of each.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Communities and Local Government has numerous databases of varying size and complexity which are used in a wide variety of ways in support of the work of the Department. A more detailed response could be provided only at disproportionate cost to the Department.

Departmental Manpower

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people aged  (a) 30 to 39,  (b) 40 to 49,  (c) 50 to 59 and  (d) 60 to 69 years have (i) applied for jobs, (ii) received interviews and (iii) gained (A) temporary and (B) permanent jobs in her Department in 2007.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not currently collect information about age of job applicants. A breakdown by the age bands requested of those appointed following external recruitment exercises (those posts advertised outside the Civil Service) held in 2007 as shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Age 30-39  Age 40-49  Age 50-59  Age 60-69 
			 Temporary contract   1 1 
			 Permanent contract 10 2 4 1 
		
	
	These data do not include information from CLG executive agencies or the Government Offices. Nor do they include temporary agency staff or other workers who are not Departmental employees.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department and its agencies spent on end-of-year bonus payments in each of the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1470W, to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson). The figure for 2003-04 was £333,800.

Departmental Pay

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was paid in bonuses by her Department to staff in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by directorate.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson) on 11 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1470W. The figure for 2003-04 was £333,800.
	The Department has recently undergone internal reorganisation and a break down by directorate is not available.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by her Department in procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibits the assignment of debt.

Parmjit Dhanda: There is no express provision in the Department's standard contract terms prohibiting the assignment of debt. There is a provision which says that the contractor shall not assign, sub-contract or in any other way dispose of the contract or any part of it without the Department's prior approval.
	On the basis that a prohibition on "assignment of debt" is a prohibition on a supplier from assigning money owed to it under a contract, we take this provision to mean that a contractor may not assign its debts, without approval from the contracting authority.

Departmental Recycling

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) volume and  (b) percentage of its waste her Department recycled in each of the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The volume and percentage of waste recycled by Communities and Local Government and its predecessor departments in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  London Headquarters  
			 Recycled Waste (tonnes) 268 225 268 324 264 
			 Total Waste (tonnes) 521 534 478 527 461 
			 Percentage Recycled 51 42 56 61 57 
			   
			  Executive Agencies  
			 Recycled Waste (tonnes) n/k n/k 700 919 792 
			 Total Waste (tonnes) n/k n/k 2,100 1,563 1,425 
			 Percentage Recycled n/k n/k 33 59 56 
			 n/k = not known  Note: These data do not include figures from the regional Government offices

Empty Property

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty dwelling management orders have been approved by residential property tribunals since their introduction; and to which local authority areas they relate.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Mr. Wright) on 16 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1038W. No further orders have been approved since that date.

English Partnerships: Land

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons English Partnerships has reversed its decision to transfer the former Cashes Green hospital site to the Gloucester Land for People Community Land Trust pilot.

Iain Wright: English Partnerships has not reversed its decision on Cashes Green because a decision has not yet been made. English Partnerships' Board considered that the proposal from the Gloucester Land for People Community Land Trust failed to offer the best use of public sector monies as it did not conform to the criteria English Partnerships is required to apply when disposing of assets. We have asked English Partnerships to identify, in collaboration with Gloucester Land for People Community Land Trust and other stakeholders, alternative options for taking forward this Community Land Trust.

Fire Services: Finance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has received from fire authorities of the convergence costs associated with FiReControl, broken down by  (a) authority and  (b) region.

Parmjit Dhanda: Detailed planning for the FiReControl transition is not yet complete. It is therefore not yet possible for Fire and Rescue Authorities to produce meaningful estimates of convergence costs.

Fire Services: Greater London

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) fire stations and  (b) appliances there were in each London borough for each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

First Time Buyers: Mortgages

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of first-time buyers in  (a) London,  (b) the South East and  (c) England took out a mortgage on a home to the value of (i) 100 per cent., (ii) 90 per cent., and (iii) 80 per cent. of the value of the property in (A) 1997, (B) 2000, (C) 2003 and (D) 2006.

Iain Wright: The proportion of first-time buyers in London, South East and England that took out mortgages on a home to the value of 100 per cent., 90 per cent. and 80 per cent. of the value of their property in 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2006 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of first-time buyers that took out mortgages to the value of 100, 90 or 80 per cent. of the value of the property 
			  Percentage 
			   100 per cent.  90 per cent.  80 per cent. 
			   London  South East  England  London  South East  England  London  South East  England 
			 1997 4.9 3.0 4.2 6.5 4.3 4.6 1.0 0.6 0.7 
			 2000 4.9 2.8 3.0 12.5 11.1 11.0 1.1 0.8 0.8 
			 2003 1.9 1.6 2.3 4.2 3.9 4.9 1.2 1.1 1.2 
			 2006 5.6 5.2 6.6 15.0 15.9 17.3 0.8 0.5 0.5 
			  Source:  Regulated Mortgage Survey

Funerals: Poverty

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on meeting the burial costs of  (a) Christian,  (b) Jewish and  (c) Muslim paupers in the latest period for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: My Department has no expenditure records on meeting these burial costs. However, in some cases, it might indirectly support these activities through the funding for local authorities.

Greater London Authority: Buildings

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the estimated £171 million cost of the lease for City Hall is in 2000 prices.

Parmjit Dhanda: The figure of £171.2 million provided in my earlier answer of 19 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1324W, is in actual prices, not 2000 prices.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council: Standards

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the latest comprehensive performance assessment rating and direction of travel of Hammersmith and Fulham Council is; and what period it covers.

John Healey: The London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham was rated overall as '4 Star and improving well' in its last CPA assessment for 2005-06 published by the Audit Commission in March 2007. This was an improvement on the 2004-05 assessment of '3 Star and improving well' published in January 2006.

Health Insurance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many officials in  (a) her Department and  (b) each of its agencies have private health insurance provided as part of their employment package.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not provide health insurance for staff.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of the range of the additional build costs of a zero carbon home, over and above those arising from compliance with Part L of the 2006 building regulations.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 35W.

Housing: Demolition

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many property demolitions funded by the Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder there were in each electoral ward up to 31 October; and how many such properties were previously owner-occupied.

Iain Wright: The total number of demolitions by ward for the period 2003-04 to 2007-08 was as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Walker 251 
			 Fenham 131 
			 Elswick 127 
			 Scotswood/Benwell 682 
			 Felling 197 
			 The Bridges 225 
			 Kenton 100 
			 Byker 41 
		
	
	These figures refer to all tenancy types. We do not currently have figures for all wards for owner occupiers on a consistent basis.

Housing: Domestic Safety

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many assessments under the housing health and safety rating system concluded with the determination of a category 1 hazard in  (a) public and  (b) social housing in each local authority in 2006-07.

Iain Wright: The Department does not collect data on the number of housing health and safety rating system inspections carried out by local authorities.
	It has commenced collecting information on the rating system through the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) and the Business Plan Statistical Appendix (BPSA) returned by local authorities. These will provide data as at April 2007. The Department expects to publish both the BPSA and HSSA in January 2008 subject to data quality.
	The HSSA data will include figures for dwellings with category 1 hazards, the estimated cost of removing the category 1 hazards in private sector dwellings (not including registered social landlords) and the number of private sector dwellings made free of category 1 hazards or demolished as a direct result of action by the local authority during 2006-07.
	The BPSA data will include figures for the number of local authority homes that do not meet the statutory minimum standard for housing and the costs to put the defects right.
	The English House Condition Survey will provide a national estimate of category 1 hazards for its 2006 findings, which we expect to publish early in 2008. This will provide estimates of the number of category 1 hazards in each type of housing stock at the national level.

Housing: Energy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on use of retrofit to improve the energy efficiency of existing houses; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: There is already an extensive body of research data on improving the energy efficiency of existing homes. The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) undertook a stock take for the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2005 of the sustainability and energy efficiency of existing housing, covering energy, water, materials and construction and demolition waste, and household waste. Their report "Stock Take: Delivering improvements in existing housing", is available on the SDC website at:
	www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications/downloads/SDC%20Stock%20Take%20Report.pdf
	My Department published its own initial analysis of the energy efficiency of existing buildings in November 2006. An analysis has also been commissioned from the Office of Climate Change.
	My Department is working with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to develop proposals for the Technology Strategy Board, sponsored by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Science to support innovation in materials and technologies that would improve the energy efficiency of existing and new buildings.
	The Technology Strategy Board is finalising the delivery plan to launch the Innovation Platform on Low Impact Buildings early in 2008. Further information on the Technology Strategy Board can be found at:
	www.berr.gov.uk/innovation/technologystrategyboard/

Housing: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the implementation of the housing and planning delivery grant does not create incentives for  (a) over-development of one-bedroom flats,  (b) over-development in areas of constraint and  (c) poor design quality.

Iain Wright: The Government are currently consulting on a proposed allocation mechanism for the housing and planning delivery grant. The consultation closes on 17 January 2008.

Housing: Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much housing revenue account monies has been taken from each local authority in each of the last five years; who received that revenue; how the redistribution was conducted; what the forecasts are for each local authority involved in returning or receiving monies over the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: A table showing the allocations of housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy for each year between 2001-02 and 2005-06 (the last year for which we have audited figures) inclusive has been deposited in the Library of the House.
	In the years up to and including 2003-04, the redistribution was effected by offsetting housing element (bricks and mortar subsidy) against rent rebate element. Since 1 April 2004, rent rebates are no longer accounted for in the housing revenue account. Surpluses are now paid direct to my Department, which also pays subsidy to those authorities in overall assumed deficit.
	We do not make forecasts of individual authorities' HRA subsidy entitlements.

Housing: Green Belt

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dwellings were built within the 1997 designated green belt in Suffolk in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Iain Wright: There is no 1997 designated green belt in Suffolk.
	Green belt accounts for 13 per cent. of the land area of England.

Housing: Heating

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what percentage of dwellings in the North West have failed the thermal comfort test rating;
	(2)  what the average Standard Assessment Procedure rating is for dwellings in the North West.

Iain Wright: The Department does not have estimates of homes failing thermal comfort or average SAP ratings for each individual region.
	In 2005 the English House Condition Survey (EHCS) reported that 20 per cent. of dwellings in the northern regions (including the North West, Yorkshire and Humber and the North East) failed the thermal comfort criterion of the decent homes standard. This was the same as the national average.
	In 2005, the EHCS also reported that the average SAP for dwellings in the northern regions (including the North West, Yorkshire and Humber and the North East) was 48. This was the same as the national average.

Land: Databases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the status is of the National Spatial Address Infrastructure; and how much has been spent from the public purse on the scheme.

Iain Wright: In June 2007, the Department announced it would not be carrying out any further work on the National Spatial Address Infrastructure (NSAI). Further details can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/researchandstatistics/geographicinformationinitiatives/nationalspatialaddress/
	The costs associated with the NSAI were provided in the response given to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) on 20 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1855W.

Local Authorities: North West Region

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what instructions she has given to Government Office for the North West on ensuring that hon. Members are  (a) notified and  (b) invited to meetings which they arrange between ministers and local authorities.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 10 December 2007
	Ministers' Private Offices have instructions to inform hon. Members if a Minister is to visit their constituency and to notify the Minister of any request to attend meetings.

Local Government Act 1986

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986; and how many incidences of non-compliance were reported to her Department in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Earlier this year, we consulted on the rules about the issuing of publicity by councils. We received over 450 responses, none of which suggested any change was needed to Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986. Communities and Local Government does not have a monitoring role in councils' compliance with this provision.

Local Government Finance

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the average cost of providing local authority services to  (a) rural and  (b) urban authorities; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what consideration she gives to the difference in costs to urban and rural authorities of providing services when determining the allocation of local authorities' grants settlements; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Each of the Relative Needs Formulae used in the calculation of the Relative Needs Amount for each authority attempts to assess the relative costs of providing services for each local authority that provides the relevant service, both urban and rural. No estimate of the actual cost of providing local authority services is made under the current method of calculating formula grant, which comprises Revenue Support Grant, redistributed business rates and principal formula Police Grant, where appropriate.

Local Government Finance

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration she gives to fuel costs when allocating the local authorities' grants settlements; what steps she has taken to alleviate this financial pressure on local authorities; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Fuel cost is not a direct factor used in the calculation of any Relative Needs Formula. However, a number of Relative Needs Formulae include a measure of the sparsity of the population. This is partially to reflect the additional travelling costs, including fuel, in sparsely-populated areas.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the name is of each funding stream for  (a) social exclusion,  (b) housing and  (c) regeneration from central Government to local authorities in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09.

John Healey: Many programmes address more than one objective so strict classification is not generally applicable. For example, Communities and Local Government's Decent Homes programme improves the condition of housing and estates in the most deprived areas and so helps address social exclusion, housing and regeneration objectives.
	The names used in 2007-08 of principal funding streams from central Government to local authorities which help address social exclusion, housing and regeneration objectives include:
	Supporting People;
	Gypsy Site Grant;
	Homelessness;
	Local Authority Supported Capital Expenditure;
	Growth Area Funding;
	Planning Delivery Grant;
	Housing Market Renewal;
	Housing Mobility Grant;
	Disabled Facilities Grant;
	London Development Agency (LDA);
	Arms Length Management Organisations and Regional Housing Pot Grant (Decent Homes);
	HIPs;
	Thames Gateway;
	Local Enterprise Growth Initiative;
	Neighbourhood Renewal Fund;
	Kickstart; and
	Rural Bus Subsidy Grant.
	Details of Government funding to local authorities in 2008-09 were announced in the provisional local government finance settlement on 6 December.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the reward grant given to local area agreements is ring-fenced to meet the targets laid out in the agreement.

John Healey: Performance reward grant is not ring-fenced to meet targets but is paid to authorities in the two financial years following the end of a local area agreement as a reward for achievement of specific targets within the LAA. It is paid to areas provided they achieve at least 60 per cent. of the stretch on reward targets. This money is paid as a non-ring-fenced grant; half can be used to support capital and half revenue expenditure. Local areas are expected to make arrangements with partners on sharing the performance reward grant.

Local Government Finance Funding Changes Independent Inquiry

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department plans to produce a formal response to the Lyons Inquiry on local government.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 18 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1530W.

Local Government Finance: Herefordshire

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration she gave to the percentage of the population aged over 65 years in Herefordshire when determining the local authority grants allocation; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The sub-national population projections of people aged 65 and over are used in the Social Services for Older People Relative Need Formula (RNF) to determine the number of projected household and supported residents aged 65 years and over. A Social Services for Older People RNF is calculated for Herefordshire since it is the authority with responsibility for social services within its area.

Local Government Finance: Herefordshire

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration she gave to the number of immigrants in Herefordshire when determining the local authority grant allocation; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: For the majority of the Relative Needs Formulae used in the calculation of the Relative Needs Amount, the client group is based on the sub-national population projections for the appropriate age group. The sub-national population projections estimate the number of people who are resident in the area for over a year, including immigrants. The 2003 based sub-national population projections for 2007 were used for the 2007-08 Local Government Finance Settlement.

Local Government Finance: Herefordshire

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration she gave to the average household income in Herefordshire when determining the local authority's grant allocation; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Household income is not a factor that has been shown to influence the relative need to spend on any particular service. However, various measures of deprivation are included within the Relative Needs Formulae, for example the number of income support claimants and the number of people receiving unemployment-related benefits.

Local Government: Complaints

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the average length of time the Local Government Ombudsman took to consider a complaint was in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many complaints her Department has received on the decision-making process of the Local Government Ombudsman in each of the last three years;
	(3)  what consideration she has given to bringing forward amendments to reform the system of appeals against local government ombudsman decisions.

John Healey: The average length of time taken for the Local Government ombudsman to determine a complaint in each of the last three years was as follows:
	
		
			   Weeks 
			 2004-05 15.5 
			 2005-06 16.9 
			 2006-07 18.4 
		
	
	My Department has received around 50 letters of complaint about the decision-making process of the local government ombudsman in each of the last three years.
	Challenges to decisions made by the local government ombudsman are matters for the courts. My Department has no plans to amend these arrangements.

Local Government: Standards

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in relation to which Best Value Performance Indicators which are not included in the National Indicator set local authorities will be required to collect and submit data to central Government.

John Healey: No additional performance indicators will be collected other than those in the national indicator set. We are committed to reducing data returns from all front line public sector organisations by 30 per cent. by May 2010. However, as set out in the 2006 Local Government White Paper, "Strong and Prosperous Communities", there will be a need for local authorities to report limited additional information, for reasons such as financial management and statistical data to support national policy development.

Maps: Green Belt

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  for what reasons her Department cancelled the commercial licence for the green belt boundaries dataset on her Department's Maps on Taps database;
	(2)  which commercial supplier provided the green belt boundaries dataset for the Maps on Taps database; and how much was spent on this dataset before the contract was cancelled by her Department.

Iain Wright: The green belt boundaries dataset was provided by Landmark Information Group. £32,606.25 was spent on this contract.
	The licence was cancelled because we can now collect digital data more efficiently from local authorities.

Non-profit Making Organisations

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to support social enterprises following assessment of responses to the Third Sector discussion paper and outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

John Healey: Responses to our Third Sector Strategy discussion paper are currently being analysed and we welcome the useful submissions from many social enterprises and entrepreneur organisations. We are aiming to publish our final strategy, including support available for social enterprise, early next year.

Ordnance Survey: Green Belt

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what records Ordnance Survey holds of green belt boundaries.

Iain Wright: None.

Parish Councils

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new parish councils were established in England in the last 24 months.

John Healey: In the last 24 months there were 23 new parish councils established in England.

Parish Councils: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the new powers for parish councils in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 will be resourced via  (a) additional funding from central Government and  (b) a higher parish precept on council tax bills.

John Healey: The Act empowers parish councils in two ways: to appoint additional parish councillors; and (where the parish council is eligible) to exercise the power of wellbeing under section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000.
	The power to appoint additional parish councillors will not require resources. The power of wellbeing will enable eligible parish councils to do anything which they consider is likely to promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their area. The extent to which the power is exercised, and the costs funded, will be a matter for eligible parish councils themselves.

Parish Councils: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what obligations will fall upon London boroughs to provide funding for parish councils set up within borough boundaries;
	(2)  what additional funding has been allocated by central Government to parish councils in London for  (a) set up and  (b) running costs.

John Healey: As with principal councils elsewhere in England who are responsible for undertaking community governance reviews, there are no obligations on London borough councils to provide funding for parish councils they may set up. It will be for them to decide whether to establish new community governance arrangements in their areas, and to anticipate the set up and running costs of the first precept to any new parish council.

Personal Care Services: Licensing

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the case for licensing of nail bars by local authorities.

Parmjit Dhanda: Nail bars are subject to a number of regulatory regimes, for example in relation to health and safety. There are currently no proposals for licensing of nail bars by local authorities.

Planning

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Prime Minister's Statement of 14 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 667-73, on national security, what plans she has to amend planning policy guidance.

Iain Wright: Government planning policy on design already asks planning authorities to create safe environments where crime and disorder or fear of crime does not undermine quality of life or community cohesion. We do however plan to publish a counter terrorism supplement to our guidance "Safer Places—the Planning System and Crime Prevention" which is intended to be a practical guide to how best to design counter terrorism measures into new development proposals while ensuring that they are of high design quality.

Planning Permission: Government Buildings

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning applications her Department has submitted in relation to requests for planning permission on its departmental properties in the last 12 months; on what buildings; and for what purposes.

Parmjit Dhanda: No planning applications have been submitted by Communities and Local Government in relation to its departmental properties in the last 12 months. This answer does not include land and buildings occupied by Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments, CLG's Government agencies or NDPBs.

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the value is of the new consultancy and contracts awarded to PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2007-08; and whether those contracts contain provisions limiting freedom of information disclosure.

Parmjit Dhanda: One new consultancy contract was awarded for £600,000. The contract was awarded under the Office of Government Commerce Buying Solutions framework agreement for the provision of financial management consultancy. The standard contractual terms and conditions applied and these do not contain provisions limiting freedom of information disclosure.

Regeneration: Greater Manchester

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the membership is of the inter-departmental working group led by her Department that is considering regeneration alternatives to the regional casino in Manchester;
	(2)  which organisations she has  (a) consulted and  (b) received representations from as part of her review of the regeneration alternatives to the regional casino in Manchester;
	(3)  which organisations she has met as part of her review of the regeneration alternatives to the regional casino in Manchester;
	(4)  when she expects to publish the outcomes of her review of regeneration alternatives to the regional casino in Manchester;
	(5)  how many full-time equivalent civil servants have been seconded to work on the review of regeneration alternatives to the regional casino in Manchester.

John Healey: holding answer 21 November 2007
	In July, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said that the Government would consider the question of whether deprived areas could be equally well served by other forms of regeneration than the development of regional casinos. While Manchester will clearly have an interest in the findings of the review, the response is not specific to alternatives to a regional casino in Manchester—it applies to deprived areas more broadly. The review of alternatives to regional casino led regeneration will report shortly.
	As a part of this process, an inter-departmental working group has been set up. Since July 2007, three full meetings have been held, on: 9 August, 10 September and 20 September.
	All meetings had representatives from Communities and Local Government, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Transport, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the Cabinet Office, the Treasury, and Government Office North West.
	During the review, Communities and Local Government officials have consulted the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Transport, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, Government Office North West, local authorities (including Blackpool and Manchester), and members of one of Communities and Local Government's External Expert Panels (including Michael Parkinson, Vince Taylor and Graham Russell).
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also met with representatives from Manchester city council, Blackpool council, and local hon. Members to hear their views.
	Civil servants have to date devoted a significant amount of time to the investigation of alternatives to regional casino led regeneration, although the review has not specifically a dedicated resource.

Regional Planning and Development: Public Participation

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to simplify the statutory forms designed for public participation in local development plans.

Iain Wright: holding answer 10 December 2007
	There is no statutory form that local authorities are required to use in consultation. The Planning Inspectorate published guidance in 2005 which included a model form for various stages of plan preparation. This is not statutory and can be modified or replaced entirely by one of the local authorities' own design.
	On 27 November 2007, we published revised draft regulations and guidance on producing local development plan documents which are designed to streamline and simplify the process.

Rented Housing

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisations responded to her Department's consultation on the Mechanism for Setting Guideline Rents in Housing Revenue Account subsidy 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Yvette Cooper: The organisations that responded were as follows:
	Adur District Council
	Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
	Basildon Council
	Birmingham City Council
	Blyth Valley Council
	Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
	Bristol City Council
	Cambridge City Council
	Chester-le-Street District Council
	CIPFA
	City of Nottingham
	Corby Borough Council
	Croydon Council
	Derby City Council
	Dover District Council
	Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
	Fareham Borough Council
	Gravesham Borough Council
	Haringey Council
	Harlow District Council
	Harrogate Borough Council
	Homes for Islington
	Hounslow Homes Hull
	Lambeth Housing
	Leeds City Council
	Lewisham Borough Council
	London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
	London Borough of Camden
	London Borough of Hackney
	London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
	Southwark Council
	London Councils
	Luton Borough Council
	Newark and Sherwood District Council
	North Tyneside
	North Warwickshire Borough Council
	Oxford City Council
	Salford County Council Sanctuary Housing Group
	Sheffield City Council
	Sheltered Housing Residents Group
	Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council/Solihull Community Housing
	South Bedfordshire District Council
	South Cambridgeshire District Council
	Southampton City Council
	Stevenage Homes Ltd.
	Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
	Swindon Borough Council
	Tandridge District Council
	Taunton Deane Borough Council
	Wandsworth Council
	Westminster City Council
	Wokingham Borough Council

Shala v. Birmingham City Council

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes to guidance for local authorities her Department is making following the Court of Appeal's judgment in the case of Shala  v. Birmingham City Council [2007] EWCA Civ 624.

Iain Wright: EWCA Civ 624. We expect local housing authorities to take account of all relevant case law, including this case, when considering applications for housing, under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 that involve medical evidence.

Small Businesses: Non-Domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many businesses were in receipt of small business rate relief in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Healey: As at 31 December 2006, there were 392,000 businesses in England that were in receipt of small business rate relief.

Standards Board for England and Adjudication Panel: Information Officers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many press officer, media, communications and marketing staff are employed by  (a) the Standards Board for England and Adjudication Panel,  (b) the Audit Commission,  (c) English Partnerships and  (d) the Housing Corporation.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to The White Book, published by COI, which is available in the Library of the House.

Sustainable Communities Act 2007

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the commencement timetable is for the provisions of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007;
	(2)  what plans she has to issue guidance to local authorities on their new powers and duties under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.

John Healey: The provisions of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 commenced on the day on which the Act received Royal Assent, 23 October 2007. The Government intend to publish draft regulations and guidance for consultation early in the new year. The consultation package will include a draft timetable for implementation of the Act's provisions.

Sustainable Communities Act 2007

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for producing local spending reports in accordance with Section 6 of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.

John Healey: Section 6(9) of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 requires the Secretary of State to make arrangements for the production of local spending reports within the period of 18 months beginning with the day on which the Act was passed. This period ends on 22 April 2009. The Government intend to make such arrangements before this date and will publish their plans for implementation of the Act early in the new year.

Trade Unions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what sponsorship each Minister in her Department received from trade unions in the last 12 months.

Parmjit Dhanda: Sponsorship that Ministers may have received in the last 12 months has been declared in the Register of Members' Interests in the usual way.

Unitary Councils

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to create further unitary authorities.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made to the House on 5 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 65-69WS.

Unitary Councils: Norwich

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effects of her Department's proposals for a unitary council for Norwich on local government structures in the rest of Norfolk.

John Healey: My Department has made no proposals for unitary structures. In October 2006 we invited councils in England to submit unitary proposals. Our invitation was clear that only those proposals that met the outcomes specified in our criteria would proceed towards implementation and all proposals had to set out the arrangements which were to apply in the remainder of the county area.
	In the written ministerial statement I made to the House on 5 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 65-69WS, I announced that we are still minded not to implement Norwich city council's unitary proposal and intend to ask the Boundary Committee for advice on the proposal and on whether for the area affected, Norwich city and the remaining county area, there could be alternative unitary solutions, involving boundary changes, which would meet the five criteria set out in our invitation.

Written Questions

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will answer questions  (a) 166759,  (b) 166760,  (c) 166761,  (d) 166762 and  (e) 166763 tabled by the hon. Member for South West Surrey on 16 November, on the review her Department is carrying out on the regeneration of Manchester.

John Healey: I have now replied to the hon. Member's questions.